Evaluation of the Protective Effect of Brassica oleracea (L. var. acephala) in Rats with Surgically-Induced Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disorder that may result in esophageal cancer. Although proton pump inhibitors are the standard treatment for this illness, Brassica oleracea may provide new therapeutic possibilities.
We aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of the B. oleracea extract and the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole on esophageal complications arising from a surgically-induced GERD model in rats. In addition, we investigated possible associations between the frequency of DNA damage and esophageal histological alterations, as well as the genotoxic/anti-genotoxic and cytotoxic/anti-cytotoxic effects of B. oleracea and omeprazole.
Rats with and without GERD were equally divided into groups to receive one of two the treatments, B. oleracea extract (500 mg/kg bw) or omeprazole (30 mg/kg bw), daily over the course of four weeks. A group of non-treated rats received water in the same circumstances. Micronucleus assay was used to assess DNA damage in blood and bone marrow cells.
Rats with GERD developed esophagitis and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. B. oleracea and omeprazole-treated GERD rats presented significantly decreased inflammation in relation to non-treated GERD rats (P B. oleracea demonstrated similar anti-inflammatory properties to omeprazole in rats with GERD. However, omeprazole also demonstrated genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in rats without GERD.