# _Brassica oleraea_ Pevents HCl/Ethanol-Induced Gastric Damages in Mice
## 1 Introduction  
Gastric ulcer is a multifactorial common disorder induced by dysregulation of acid-peptide activity in gastric juice, and lifetime prevalence of the disease has been estimated to be approximately 5 to 10% of general population [1]. Several aggressive factors, such as alcohol, smoking, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and _Helicobacter pylori_ infection has been considered to cause gastric ulcer by inhibiting mucosal defensive mechanisms (e.g., tight junctions between epithelial cells, microvascular blood circulation, and bicarbonate buffering system) [2, 3]. Especially, it has been reported that alcohol rapidly disrupts mucosal layer and exposes the gastric mucosa to acidic and enzymatic degradation. In addition, alcohol-mediated decrease in blood flow provokes microvascular injuries and accumulates production of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines [4]. Furthermore, the alcohol-mediated gastric damages can be more aggravated in the presence of hydrogen chloride (HCl) [5]. Although cessation of alcohol would be essential for treating an alcohol-mediated gastric ulcer, it is difficult for heavy drinkers tomaintain the abstinence. Moreover, standard pharmacological agents for treating gastric ulcer (e.g., histamine receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors) still confer mild to severe side effects.  
A number of plants, vegetables, and those-derived natural compounds have recently received great attention for their ability to prevent gastric ulcer [6; 7; 8; 9; 10]. Among diverse natural resources, _Brassica oleraca_ var. _capitata_ L. (common name, cabbage; family, _Brassicaaceae_) grows over 90 countries including South Korea and is rich in minerals (e.g., calcium and potassium), micronutrients (e.g., vitamin C and K), and phytochemicals (e.g., vitamin U, glucosinolates, and polyphenols) [11; 12]. Growing evidence suggests that _B. oleraca_ has a wide range of prophylactic potential for preventing cancer, contact dermatitis, dyslipidemia, hepatitis, and hyperglycemia [11; 13; 14; 15; 16]. Especially, early clinical investigation has reported that cabbage juice can heal peptic ulcer in human [12; 17]. However, little attention has been paid to proving the gastoprotective effect of cabbage in experimental animals. Only two experimental studies have shown that post-administration of cabbage aqueous extract shortens the length of gastric ulcer, increases pH of gastric juice, and alleviates the histopathological ulcerative changes caused by administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin) [18; 19]. Although _B. oleraca_ has the potential for preventing gastric ulcer, detailed mechanisms for _B. oleraca_-mediated gastoprotection have not been fully understood.  
Of diverse toxicological, physiological, and surgical models for gastric ulcer, the experimental model administered by HCl/ethanol (H/E) resembles pathophysiological features of human acute gastric ulcer [10]. Thus, H/E-induced gastric ulcers have been frequently used to study the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer and to evaluate the anti-ulcerative effect of valuable candidates [6; 7; 8; 9]. The present study aims to assess the protective effect of _B. oleraca_ var. _capitata_ L. extract (BOE) against H/E-induced gastric damage in mice and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, as the first process for developing the potent alternative gastoprotective ingredient for functional food, gastoprotective effects of BOE are compared to those of ranitidine hydrochloride (RA), a representative histamine H2 receptor (H2R) antagonist.