Abstract: AIM: To evaluate the protective effects of Rheum tanguticum polysaccharides (RTP) on stress induced by gastric ulcer in rats.METHODS: Water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) induced gastric injury was used as the experimental model of acute gastric ulcer. Rats were orally administrated with RTP before stressed. 6 hours after WRS, all the animals were sacrificed and the stomachs of rats were taken out to examine the ulcer index and observe histologically. The activity of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in serum and gastric mucosa.RESULTS: Six hours of water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) resulted in appearance of acute gastric mucosal lesions. RTP significantly decreased the ulcer index and the level of MDA in mucosa of stressed rats, and increased the activity of SOD both in serum and gastric mucosa.CONCLUSION: RTP has remarkable protective effects on WRS induced gastric ulcer in rats, which suggests that the effective component of rhubarb on stress induced by gastric injury is perhaps RTP.

Key words: stress, ulcer, Rheum tanguticum polysaccharides, MDA, SOD