Low dose administration of mature silkworm powder induces gastric mucosal defense factors in ethanol-induced gastric injury rat model.

Gastric mucosa is important to protect the gastric damage against external factors. We previously reported the gastro-protective effects of steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP) in ethanol-treated rats. However, the factors that promote mucosal formation still remain unclarified. In this study, we evaluated the effect of SMSP on the restoration and maintenance of gastric mucosal layer as well as anti-inflammatory response in ethanol-induced stomach injury in rats. A significant decrease of ulcer indexes, histopathological scores and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels was observed in SMSP-treated group. In addition, SMSP protected the mucosal layer from ethanol-induced gastric damage by increasing the expression of nitric oxide synthases and heat shock proteins, along with promoting genes related gastric mucosal protection and biosynthesis including mucin 5AC and trefoil factors. These results demonstrate that SMSP attenuates the pro-inflammatory responses and strengthens the gastric mucosal layer, thus exhibiting gastro-protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats.