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The gastroprotective effects of honey and methanol extract of P. granatum L. fruit peel and N. sativa L seeds were investigated in the rat against ethanol-induced gastric damage. 5 groups of adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used throughout the experiment. Oral administration of absolute ethanol (5 ml kg-1 body weight) to fasted rats produced extensive lesions of gastric mucosa (Group 2). Pretreatment with honey (2.5 g kg-1 body weight) alone (Group 3) or honey in combination with each of P. granatum L. (0.1 g kg-1) (Group 4) or N. sativa L. (0.1 g kg-1) extracts (Group 5) orally 30 min before administration of absolute ethanol (5 ml kg-1) decreased or prevented the formation of such lesion. The observed protection was more pronounced when honey combined with each extract than honey alone. Honey in combination with N sativa L. completely ablated gastric lesions. Although the mechanism of gastric cytoprotection is unknown, honey in combination with each plant extracts appears to increase the resistance of gastric mucosal cells to the necrotizing effect of strong irritants (absolute alcohol). These results suggest that honey in combination with N. sativa L. or P. granatum L. extracts maintain the cellular integrity of the gastric mucosa, and might be beneficial in the treatment of a variety of diseases in which gastric mucosal injury is present.
