Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the lesions resulting from administration high dose of ethanol in stomach of rats for 60 days, also to identify the protective role of the alcoholic extract of licorice to reduce effects of ethanol. This study included four groups, group one considered as control, while the second dealed with the effect of ethanol alone at a concentration 40% and a dose of 3000 mg/kg body weight orally, the third group was a protective (alcoholic licorice extract at a dose 200 mg/kg body weight orally before two hours of ethanol administration), while the fourth group using of alcoholic licorice extract alone. Results revealed significant elevation in MDA level as well as significant decrease in the GSH in all treated group. Gross pathological changes in ethanol treated group showed the presence of erosion in gastric epithelium. Histologically, it has been showed the presence of necrosis in gastric pits and glands with atrophy of some of them and infiltration of inflammatory cells and hemorrhage, while the protective group showed presence of necrosis in epithelial cells linning the gastric glands and desquemation from basement membrane at 60 day, while the histopathological changes was mild in the group given licorice ethanolic extract alone. In conclusion, inefficiency of licorice ethanolic extract in reducing the effects of high dose of ethanol on the stomach.