Investigation of the effects of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) skin mucus against indomethacin-induced gastric damage in rats.

A peptic ulcer is a stomach lesion. It is generally caused by malnutrition, the use of anti-inflammatory medications, and an imbalance between mucosal defense systems. In fishes, the lubricous substance that called mucus secreted from the skin, prevents the entry of microorganisms that can enter the body through the skin. That mucus contains immune components such as antimicrobial peptides, lysozymes, lectins, proteases, and mucin. This study investigated the antiulcer activity of Rainbow Trout skin Mucus (RTM) in indomethacin induced ulcer model of rats and compared with famotidine as standard antiulcer drug. We administered 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg RTM dose on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer model in rats and evaluated the numerical density of ulcer areas, histopathologic parameters and oxidative stress parameters (SOD, GSH, MDA) in the rat stomach. RTM was able to inhibit indomethacin-induced ulcer formation and exhibited a similar effect to 40 mg/kg dose of standard drug famotidine. 200 mg/kg dose of RTM had positive effects on oxidative stress biomarkers and histopathological results in the stomach tissue of rats. This is the first time we have fully demonstrated the gastroprotective effects of RTM as a waste product in rats. Analyses have shown that mucin, which has a positive regulatory effect on oxidative stress parameters, may be responsible for the gastroprotective effect.