Abstract
Water-immersion restraint stress is known to induce gastric ulcer in rats by oxidative stress via free radicals. Protective effects of natural β-carotene were examined in rats, which were fed a diet containg 0.05% natural β-carotene for 2 weeks, against water-immersion stress ulcer. 1. Ulcer index and ulcer area estimated by morphometrical analysis were inhibited to 50% in rats fed a natural β-carotene diet as comparison with those fed a standard diet. 2. Plasma concentration of β-carotene and ratio of 9cis/trans β-carotene decreased remarkably after water immersion stress. These results suggest that antioxidant effects of natural β-carotene suppress the development of stress ulcer induced by water-immersion restraint. Natural β-carotene is effective in protecting the stress ulcer.
