Gastroprotective Effect of Magnesium on Indomethacin-induced Gastric Ulceration in Normal and Alloxan Induced-Diabetic Rats

Magnesium is reported to reduce acid secretion and possess hypoglycemic properties. However, information about its gastroprotective ability is unknown. The gastroprotective effect of magnesium on indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats was investigated. Male rats were divided into 7 groups of 6 animals each. Groups 1,3,5 received normal saline(0.2ml), magnesium(500mg/kg) and omeprazole(20mg/kg) respectively. Group 2,4,6,7 were diabetic animals treated with normal saline, magnesium only, omeprazole only and both magnesium and omeprazole respectively. Diabetes was induced with alloxan (120mg/kg i.p) and ulcer was induced with indomethacin (40mg/kg).Ulcer was scored and stomach samples were stored for histological studies. Ulcer score reduced significantly in normal animals treated with magnesium (2.83±0.55), magnesium treated diabetic group (4.7±0.60) and group treated with both magnesium and omeprazole compared to the controls. Histological assessment of the gastric mucosa and submucosa revealed infiltration by inflammatory cells in normal and diabetic animals whereas the groups pretreated with magnesium did not show any inflammation, edema, and hemorrhage. Animals pretreated with omeprazole only showed mild inflammation while the group pretreated with both omeprazole and magnesium showed scanty inflammation with no signs of edema and hemorrhage. The gastro-protection against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration observed in this study could have been produced by magnesium pretreatment.