betaine improves gastroprotective effects of ranitidine and omeprazole against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats

Background and Aim: Antioxidant capacity of betaine has been indicated in our recent studies. Thus, we examined oral betaine as an antioxidant agent in combination with antisecretory drugs to prevent indomethacin-induced gastric damages in rats. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into two controls (negative and normal) and five experimental groups as follows: betaine-indomethacin (Bet.-Ind.), ascorbic acid-indomethacin (Asc.-Ind.), omeprazole-indomethacin (Ome.-Ind.), betaine-omeprazole plus indomethacin (Bet.-Ome.-Ind.) and betaine-ranitidine plus indomethacin (Bet.-Ran.-Ind.). Results: The betaine pretreated groups received betaine at a dosage of 1.5% (w/w) in their diet, whereas 50 mg/kg of ascorbic acid was administered orally to the Asc.-Ind., group for 15 consecutive days. After a 24 hour fast, all the groups received 48 mg/kg of indomethacin once except for normal control group. The omeprazole and ranitidine groups also received one dose of omeprazole (10 mg/kg) and ranitidine (50 mg/kg), 120 minutes before receiving indomethacin. Histopathological findings indicated the gastroprotective effects of betaine and ranitidine in pretreated rats. Pretreatment by betaine and ranitidine increased significantly the ulcer index inhibition (%), in comparison with ascorbic acid and omeprazole (alone) treatment. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was significantly higher in the Bet.-Ran.-Ind., group as compared to the Asc.-Ind., and Ome.-Ind., treated rats. GPx activity also increased significantly in Bet.-Ind., treated rats as compared to the Asc.-Ind. group. Catalase (CAT) activity was remarkably higher in the Bet.-Ran.-Ind., treated rats than the Asc.-Ind., and Ome.-Ind., groups. TBARS concentration as a lipid peroxidation marker increased significantly in Ome.-Ind., group as compared to the Bet.-Ind., and Bet.-Ran.-Ind., treated rats. Conclusion: Thus, it seems that betaine as an antioxidant agent, is able to improve the effects of ranitidine and omeprazole against indomethacin-mediated gastric damages in rats. It may also be promising in the prevention of NSAIDs side effects.