Therapeutic Potential of Sweet Orange Juice in Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers with Timing Consideration

Background: Gastric Ulcer (GU) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder caused by an imbalance between aggressive and protective factors in the gastric mucosa. The effectiveness of conventional treatments such as proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics have been limited by their adverse effects and high costs. Citrus fruits have demonstrated antimicrobial, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties, and could therefore be useful for gastric ulcer management. This study investigates the gastroprotective effects of Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) juice in an ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in Wistar rats.

Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats (150 ± 20 g) were randomly assigned into six groups (n = 5). Rats were fasted for 24 hours and gastric ulceration was induced via oral administration of 96% ethanol (5 mL/kg). Sweet orange juice (5 mL/kg) was administered at different time points for seven days. Rats were sacrificed and stomach tissue were harvested for histological and biochemical analysis. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test, with significance set at p<0.05.

Results: Ethanol-induced gastric ulcers led to increased ulcer scores and ulcer index, with a significant reduction in % ulcer inhibition. Sweet orange juice administration from the fifth day Post-Ulcer Induction (PUI) significantly reduced ulcer severity. Inflammatory marker analysis showed that NF-κB and MPO levels were significantly elevated in the ulcer group compared to the control but were markedly reduced following orange juice treatment. Histological findings demonstrated substantial gastric mucosal restoration in groups treated with sweet orange juice, particularly in those receiving treatment from the fifth day post-ulcer induction.

Conclusion: Sweet orange juice exhibits gastroprotective effects against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers, potentially via anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The most significant protective effect was observed when treatment was initiated five days after ulcer induction.