A Polyphenol-Rich Ginger, Licorice and Pomegranate Blend Strengthens Gastrointestinal Antioxidant Defenses While Preserving Gastric Acid Homeostasis

DOI

https://www.doi.org/10.59256/ijrtmr.20260606001

Published In

Volume 6, Issue 6 (2026)

Published Online

November-December 2026

Pages

01-07

Article Type

Original Article

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Food-derived botanical combinations may influence gastrointestinal function through complementary bioactive compounds, but the response of a complete formulation cannot be predicted from its individual ingredients. We hypothesized that 14-day oral administration of a ginger, licorice and pomegranate extract blend would lower lipid peroxidation and increase endogenous antioxidant defenses in healthy male rats without adversely altering gastric secretion or digestive enzyme activity. Eighteen rats were randomized to vehicle, 50 mg/kg blend or 100 mg/kg blend groups. Body weight, food intake, gastric volume and acidity, serum and gastric tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzyme activities, glutathione status, digestive enzymes and gastric histology were evaluated. No mortality or treatment-related changes in final body weight, gastric volume, free acidity or total acidity were observed. Serum MDA decreased by 44.5% and 58.9% at 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, and gastric tissue MDA was also lower than control. Serum and intestinal superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities increased, with generally larger responses at 100 mg/kg. Gastric pepsin increased at 100 mg/kg, whereas trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase were unchanged. Gastric architecture remained preserved. The hypothesis was supported: the blend enhanced endogenous antioxidant defense and selectively influenced gastric digestive activity without materially disrupting gastric acidity or major small-intestinal digestive enzymes.