The Potential Protective Effect Of Arabic Gum (Acaciasenegal) On Rats Infected With Gastric Ulcer Causedby Ethyl Alcohol

Arabic gum is used throughout the world for various purposes including food additive and pharmaceutical excipient. Arabic gum was showed to be used internally for the treatment of inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective effect of arabic gum on rats infected with gastric ulcer rats caused by ethyl alcohol.Thirty male albinorats were randomly divided into five groups (6 rats each), the first and second groups fed standard diet, the third, fourth and fifth groups fed standard diet containing 2.5, 5, 7.5% arabic gum (AG) powder respectively. At the end of experimental period (30^th day),the rats were fasted for 24 h with free access to water. The rats of second, third, fourth and fifth groups were given a single orally dose of ethyl alcohol 95% at 10 ml/kg body weight while, the negative control group gave a single orally dose of saline (0.9%, w/v).After two hour later and under anesthesia by diethyl ether, abdominal wall was opened and gastric juice collected and centrifuged for studying of gastric secretion parameters. The results showed that groups which treatment with AG was significantly decreased in ulcer score, ulcer index and increase in preventive index compared with the positive control group. Supplemented rats diet with 7.5% of AG was more effective to protect the stomach of ulcer than supplemented with 2.5% and 5%. Arabic gum was used to replace part of the whole wheat flour (2.5%, 5% and 7.5%) in standard bread. Sensory evaluation showed that all replacement of AG in bread was showed acceptable by the panelists.The study concluded that arabic gum had a protective activity against peptic ulcer in adult rats which induced by ethyl alcohol.