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.
Keywords: Nelumbinis Rhizomatis Nodus; carbon dots; gastric ulcers; potential mechanism.