[Protective effect of puerarin on stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats].

Objective: To study the protective effect of puerarin on stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

Method: The model of gastric ulcer was established by restraint plus water-immersion stress in rats. Gastric motility was monitored by the method of "Gas Balloon". Gastric mucosal blood flow was recorded by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Colorimetric method was used to determine the content of NO and ET in gastric mucosal tissue. Meantime the pathologic changes of gastric mucosal was examined.

Result: Puerarin could significantly attenuated gastric mucosal damage induced by water-immersion stress, inhibited gastric motility, specially decreased the index of gastric motility and percentage of gastric contraction time and numbers of violent contraction. The gastric mucosal blood flow and NO level in gastric mucosal were enhanced, while ET level was reduced by puerarin. The degree of tissue damage in gastric mucosal was also significantly attenuated after administration fo puerarin.

Conclusion: Puerarin exerts a significant protective effect on water-immersion stress-induced gastric mucosal damage by relaxing the vessels, increasing NO level in gastric mucosal, increasing regional gastric mucosal blood flow and inhibiting gastric motility.