AIM To compare the effects of extract F of red-rooted Salvia (EFRRS) on mucosal lesions of gastric corpus and antrum induced by hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion in rats.METHODS The rats were subject to hemorrhagic shock and followed by reperfusion, and were divided randomly into two groups. Group 1 received saline, and group 2 received EFRRS intravenously. The index of gastric mucosal lesions (IGML) was expressed as the percentage of lesional area in the corpus or antrum. The degree of gastric mucosal lesions (DGML) was catalogued grade 0, 1, 2 and 3. The concentrations of prostaglandins (PGs) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The concentration of MDA was measured according to the procedures of Asakawa. The activity of SOD was measured by the biochemical way. The growth rates or inhibitory rates of above-mentioned parametes were calculated.RESULTS As compared with IGML (%), grade 3 damage (%) and MDA content (nmol/g tissue) of gastric antrum which were respectively 7.96±0.59 , 34.86±4.96 and 156.98±16.12, those of gastric corpus which were respectively 23.18±6.82, 58.44±9.07 and 230.56±19.37 increased markedly (P<0.01), whereas the grade 0 damage, grade 1 damage, the concentrat ions of PGE 2 and PGI 2 (pg/mg tissue), the ratio of PGI 2 /TXA 2 and the activity of SOD (U/g tissue) of corpus which were respectively 3.01±1. 01, 8.35±1.95, 540.48±182.78, 714.38±123.74, 17.38±5.93 and 134.29±13.35 were markedly lower than those of antrum which were respectively 13.92±2.25, 26.78±6.06, 2218.56±433.12, 2531.76±492.35, 43.46±8.51 and 187.45±17.67 (P<0.01) after hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion. After intravenous EFRRS, the growth rates (%) of grade 0 damage, grade 1 damage, the concentrations of PGE2 and PGI 2 , the ratio of PGI 2 /TXA 2 and the activity of SOD of corpus which were respectively 632.56, 308.62, 40.75, 74.75, 92.29 and 122.25 were higher than those in antrum which were respectively 104. 89, 58.40, 11.12, 56.58, 30.65 and 82.64, whereas the inhibitory rates (%) of IGML, grade 3 damage and MDA content of gastric corpus were 82.93, 65.32 and 59.09, being higher than those of gastric antrum which were 76.64, 53.18 and 42.37.CONCLUSION After hemorrhagic shock-reperfusion, the gastric mucosal lesions in the corpus were more severe than those in the antrum, which were related not only to the different distribution of endogenous PGs in the mucosa, but also to the different ability of antioxidation of the mucosa. The protective effect of EFRRS on the gastric mucosa in the corpus was more evident than that in the antrum, which was related to higher growth degree of PGs contents and antioxitative ability in gastric corpus after administratio n of EFRRS.Subject headings plant extracts/pharmacology; gastric mucosa/pathology; shock hemorrhagic; reperfusion; hydroxyl radical Zhang LH, Yao CB, Li HQ. Effects of extract F of red-rooted Salvia on mucosal lesions of gastric corpus and antrum induced by hemorrhagic shock-reperfusion in rats. World J Gastroenterol, 2001; 7(4):672-677