Gastroprotective Effects of Nelumbinis Rhizomatis Nodus-Derived Carbon Dots on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the gastroprotective effects of Nelumbinis Rhizomatis Nodus carbon dots (NRN-CDs) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Materials & methods: NRN-CDs synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet, fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and zeta potential analyzer. Their gastroprotective effects toward ethanol-induced gastric ulcers were evaluated in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Results: NRN-CDs showed an average diameter of 2.33 ± 0.42 nm and a lattice spacing of 0.29 nm. Pretreatment with NRN-CDs significantly decreased the ulcer index and attenuated the severity of gastric mucosal damage, indicating that NRN-CDs exerted potent gastric protective effect. Moreover, the gastroprotection effect was related to the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors. Conclusion: NRN-CDs could be developed as a potential drug for the treatment of gastric ulcers.

Graphical abstract

Keywords::

• carbon dots
• gastric ulcers
• Nelumbinis Rhizomatis Nodus
• potential mechanism

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by Special Funds for Fundamental Research Expenses of Central Universities (China). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

This study was performed under the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and was approved by the Committee of Ethics of Animal Experimentation of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all animal experimental investigations. Animals: A total of 60 male Sprague–Dawley rats (180–200 g) were purchased from the Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Co., Ltd. (Beijing, China). Animals were acquired from the Laboratory Animal Centre, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and were bred in an environmentally controlled breeding room (temperature: 20–25°C) for 1 week prior to the start of the experiments and provided with standard laboratory food and water. The experiments and procedures were complied with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Beijing University of Chinese medicine.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Special Funds for Fundamental Research Expenses of Central Universities (China). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.