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Grapefruit extract effective in stomach ulcer healing

by Medindia Content Team on Jul 16 2005 11:17 AM

Stomach ulcers can now be healed effectively and properly by grapefruit extract revealed a study presented at Digestive Disease Week® 2005 (DDW).

The title of the study is “Role of Lipid Peroxidation, Expression, and Activity of Superoxide Dismutase and Endogenous Prostaglandins in the Acceleration of Ulcer Healing by Grapefruit Seed Extract.”

This effect is due to strong antioxidant properties shown by grapefruit extract. While grapefruit is often associated with acidity and GI irritation, GSE actually possesses antibacterial and antioxidative properties that calm the gastric tract. Researchers from Jagiellonian University Medical College in Poland examined the beneficial healing effects of GSE on preexisting gastric ulcers.

The team tested ulcer healing by using a combination of acetic acid (an acid compound used to induce experimental ulcers) with or without a COX-1 inhibitor (indomethacin, 2 mg/kg) and a COX-2 inhibitor (rofecoxib, 10 mg/kg).

The experiments showed that GSE accelerated healing of ulcers involving COX-1 and COX-2 activity.

Being acidic in nature people might assume that grapefruit will be harmful to ulcers bu the study proves the exact opposite.

Source: American Gastroenterological Association


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