Defense of a PhD Dissertation on the Protective and Therapeutic Effects of Natural Compounds Against Gastric Ulcers
The Department of Pharmacology at the College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, held on Thursday, 27 November 2025, the defense of the PhD dissertation of the student Samer Jaafar Shareef, entitled:
“Protective and Therapeutic Effects of Emodin and Salvianolic Acid-B Against Diclofenac-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Male Rats.”
This study aims to evaluate the protective and therapeutic effects of Emodin and Salvianolic Acid-B against diclofenac-induced gastric ulcers, and to determine their influence on secretory parameters, antioxidant, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory activities, as well as their angiogenesis-promoting effects in this model. It also includes the histological assessment of gastric tissues following treatment with Emodin and Salvianolic Acid-B in diclofenac-induced gastric ulcer.
The results showed improvements in secretory parameters (gastric fluid volume, pH, pepsin, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and α1-antitrypsin precursor), antioxidant markers (lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase), inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 and interleukin-10), and anti-ulcer indicators (prostaglandin E2 and cyclooxygenase-1). Angiogenic factors (VEGF and HGF) were also significantly increased, in addition to a marked reduction in histopathological alterations.
These findings support that Emodin and Salvianolic Acid-B possess protective and therapeutic effects against nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug–induced gastric ulcers. The proposed mechanism underlying these effects includes anti-secretory, antioxidant, anti-ulcer, and anti-inflammatory activities, along with enhanced angiogenic stimulation and improvement in tissue histopathology.
Examination Committee:
• Prof. Ahmed Rahma Ali – Chair
• Prof. Anees Khalil Nail – Member
• Prof. Ban Jomaa Qasim – Member
• Prof. Manaf Hashim Abdul-Razzaq – Member
• Asst. Prof. Fouad Kazem Kati – Member
• Prof. Haitham Mahmood Kazem – Member and Supervisor
The dissertation was accepted with a grade of Excellent.
Media and Government Communication Division
College of Medicine – Al-Nahrain University
