Gastroprotective effect of soluble dietary fibres from yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) peel against ethanol-induced ulcer in rats

Abstract Yellow passion fruit peel (PFP) is considered an important source of dietary fibre (DF) and its consumption has been associated with health benefits in metabolic and gut disturbs. This work aimed to characterize the chemical structure of soluble DF (SDF) from PFP and evaluate its gastroprotective activity in acute gastric-ulcer model induced by ethanol in rats. SDF was composed of 92% of GalA and presented high methyl esterified homogalacturonan (DE = 70%), with relative M w of 53 kDa. Oral pre-treatment of animals with SDF (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg) significantly reduced gastric ulcer lesions by 72%, 79% and 87% respectively. The gastroprotective effect was maintained when SDF was administered by the intraperitoneal route. SDF also prevented the depletion of GSH levels and gastric wall mucus when administered by both routes. These results demonstrated that ingestion of SDF from PFP exerts significant gastroprotective effects in vivo on experimentally induced gastric ulcers.