Protective effects of mastic in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced gut damage and bacterial translocation in a rat model

Background : NSAIDs induce gut damage and bacterial translocation throughout the entiregastrointestinal tract. The aim of the present study was to examine whether mastic, a natural resinous exudate obtained from the Pistacia lentiscus treetrees, can reduce diclofenac induce gutdamage and bacterial translocation in rats. Methods : 32 SD rats were divided into four groups; a control group, diclofenac group, diclofenac with 0.3 cc/kg mastic group and diclofenac with 1.0 cc/kg mastic group. Mastic oils were administered 3 hours before diclofenac administration (100 mg/kg orally 2 days). Intestinal permeability, enteric aerobic bacterial counts in the distal ileum and cecum, intestinal adhesion, lipid peroxidation of distal ileum, and bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney and heart were measured, respectively Results : Diclofenac caused marked increase in intestinal permeability, enteric bacterial numbers in distal ileum and cecum, intestinal adhesion, lipid peroxidation of the distal ileum, and bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney and heart of which event were reduced with Mostic coadminist. Howere mastic oil showed significant profect effects in 1.0 cc/kg dose. Conclusions : Mastic was proven to have beneficial effects on preventing NSAID induced gut injury and bacterial translocation in a rat model.