Abstract
Gastritis refers to inflammation caused by injury to the gastric epithelium, which is usually due to excessive alcohol consumption and prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs. Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from this disease. However, the lack of safe and promising treatments makes it urgent to explore and develop leads from natural resources. Therefore, food as medicine may be the best approach for the treatment of these disorders. The present study described the protective effects of food‑polydeoxyribonucleotides (f‑PDRNs) in a rat model of gastric mucosal injury induced by HCl‑EtOH. Administration of f‑PDRN was performed with low‑PRF002 (26 mg/kg/day), medium‑PRF002 (52 mg/kg/day) and high‑PRF002 (78 mg/kg/day) on the day of autopsy. The site of damage to the mucous membrane was also analysed. In addition, an increase in gastric juice pH, total acidity of gastric juice and decrease in gastric juice secretion were confirmed, and gastric juice secretion‑related factors corresponding to the administration of f‑PDRN were analysed. Administration of f‑PDRN reduced the mRNA expression of histamine H2 receptor, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3, cholecystokinin 2 receptor and H+/K+ ATPase related to gastric acid secretion and downregulation of histamine, myeloperoxidase and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. In addition, it was histologically confirmed that the loss of epithelial cells and the distortion of the mucosa were recovered in the group in which f‑PDRN was administered compared to the model group with gastric mucosa damage. In summary, the present study suggested that f‑PDRN has therapeutic potential and may have beneficial effects if taken regularly as a food supplement.