اثرات آنتی‌اکسیدانی بتائین در مقابل آسیب معده ناشی از اندومتاسین در موش‌های صحرایی

Introduction: Betaine (trimethyl glycine) is known as methyl group donor and antioxidant in previous reports. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant effects of betaine in Indomethacin-induced gastric damages. Methods: Thirty-two adult male Sprague–Dawley rats in an experimental study were divided into four equal groups as follow: Control, Indomethacin, Betaine-indomethacin and Ascorbic acid-indomethacin. Control and indomethacin groups received normal saline and betaine and ascorbic acid-pretreated rats were administrated betaine (1.5% of the total diet) and ascorbic acid (50 mg/kg body weight) for 15 consecutive days, respectively. After 24 h fasting, all of the groups received indomethacin (48 mg/kg body weight) and control group received distilled water. Results: Indomethacin administration increased gastric ulcer occurrence (%) in comparison with control group and betaine pretreatment significantly decreased ulcer occurrence (%) when compared to the other groups (P=0.0017). Gastric wall glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was significantly lower in indomethacin group in comparison with the other groups (P=0.0012) while, betaine and ascorbic acid pretreatment increased GPx activity in comparison with indomethacin group (P=0.0012). Catalase activity was significantly higher in betaine-pretreated rats in comparison with indomethacin and ascorbic acid-indomethacin groups (P=0.0015). Lipid peroxidation significantly decreased in betaine and ascorbic acid pretreated groups (P=0.0013). Conclusion: These results showed beneficial antioxidant effects of betaine against gastric damages induced by indomethacin in rats.