Cyto protective effect of bis[benzyl N′-(indol-3-ylmethylene)-hydrazinecarbodithioato]-nickel(II) against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

Bis[benzyl N′-(indol-3-ylmethylene)-hydrazinecarbodithioato]-nickel(II) (BIHCN) has been used in traditional medicine for their biological activities. The present study was performed to evaluate the anti-ulcerogenic activity of BIHCN against ethanol induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. Six groups of adult Sprague Dawley rats were orally pre-treated respectively with 10% Tween 20 solution (ulcer control group), omeprazole 20 mg/kg (reference group), and 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of BIHCN in 10% Tween 20 solution (experimental groups) one hour before oral administration of absolute ethanol to generate gastric mucosal injury. After an additional hour, the rats were sacrificed and the ulcer areas of the gastric walls were determined. Grossly, the ulcer control group exhibited severe mucosal injury, whereas pre-treatment with compound exhibited significant protection of gastric mucosal injury. Histological studies of the gastric wall revealed that ulcer control group exhibited severe damage of gastric mucosa; along with edema and leucocytes infiltration of submucosal layer compared to rats pre-treated with BIHCN which showed comparatively gastric mucosal protection, reduction or absence of edema and leucocytes infiltration of submucosal layer. Acute toxicity study of BIHCN with a higher dose of 5 g/kg did not manifest any toxicological signs in rats. In conclusions, the present finding suggests that BIHCN promotes ulcer protection as ascertained grossly by significant reduction of ulcer area, and histologically by comparatively decreases in ulcer areas, reduction or absence of edema and leucocytes infiltration of submucosal layer compared to ulcer control group.