Abstract
Replacement and maintenance of gastric protective phospholipids by supplementing exogenous phospholipids as such or in the form of natural food, have been shown to be beneficial in both prevention and treatment of experimentally induced mucosal injuries. Avocado mesocarp has been found to contain high levels of lipids, including phospholipids.
Aims of the present study:
-
a
To evauate whether orally given avocado has a gastroprotective effect, and
-
b
To demonstrate that avocado mescarp phosphipids are the potentially active ingredients
methods: Acute gastric corpus mucosal injury was induced in fasted rats by intragastric administration of absolute ethanol. Avocado mesocarp was mixed with saline and given by gavage, as a pretreatment in a single dose. Lesions were macroscopically evaluated. Avocado phospholipids were demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy, contact angle measurement and thin-layer chromatography.
Results: Avocado pretreatment reduced the extent of acute ethanol-induced gastric mucosal erosions. Various physical forms of phospholipids were seen in the avocado mesocarp. Lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were the main components of the mesocarp phospholipid fraction. Contact angle measurement has shown avocado to be highly surface active at solid interfaces, which avocado renders hydrophobic by adsorption of phospholipids analysed by thin-layer chromatography.
Conclusions: The phospholipid fraction may be the active component responsible for the capacity of the avocado fruit to protect the gastric mucosa against acute ethanol-induced injury. However, the mechanism of the protection afforded by avocado remains to be completely elucidated.
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Dunjic, B.S., Axelson, J., Hashmonai, M., Bengmark, S. (1997). Are Phospholipids Involved in the Gastroprotective Capacity of Avocado?. In: Mózsik, G., Nagy, L., Pár, A., Rainsford, K.D. (eds) Cell Injury and Protection in the Gastrointestinal Tract. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5392-8_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5392-8_15
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