Pharmacologically Active Tripeptide Leu-Ile-Lys in Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcer

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of a new tripeptide, Leu-Ile-Lys, on an experimental indometacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Materials and Methods: The experiment was performed with 24 male Wistar rats (average weight of 150 g). Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group 1(n=8) – the ulcer control group (IIGU), Group 2 (n=8) – the experimental group (IIGU+pre-treating with the tripeptide Leu-Ile-Lys), and Group 3 (n=8) – the comparison group (IIGU+pre-treating with omeprazole). The model of IIGU in rats was performed by a single intragastric administration of indomethacin (60mg/kg in 1ml of physiological saline). In Group 1, indomethacin caused the appearance of severe injuries of the mucosa with the presence of extensive edema and leukocyte infiltration in the submucosal layer. In animals of Group 2, which were pre-treated with the tripeptide Leu-Ile-Lys, macroscopically gastric mucosa also looked smooth and atrophic changes were not found. Destructive changes were not severe; they appeared only in the form of small spot erosions. The number of spot erosions was 2.6 times less than in Group 1. The average erosion depth was 6.8 times less than in Group 1, and 2.0 times less than in Group 3. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrated the high, comparable to the action of omeprazole, gastroprotective activity of the new tripeptide Leu-Ile-Lys.

Keywords

• peptic ulcer
• Indometacine
• oligopeptides
• gastroprotective activity