Papers of the Week

Fruits of , commonly called bishop's weed, contain a significant amount of furanocoumarins. Alloimperatorin (Allo, ) was isolated from the free coumarin fraction of fruits, beside 8-hydroxypsoralen (), methoxsalen (), heraclin (), isoimperatorin (), imperatorin (), isoheraclenin () and heraclenin hydrate (). Piroxicam (Px) is a widely used pain-relieving drug that demonstrated side effects, including gastric ulceration and hepatorenal toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the protective potential of Alloimperatorin against Px-induced gastric ulceration and hepatorenal toxicity. Rats were divided into four groups: Negative control, Px-induced rats, Allo + Px co-treated group, and Pc + Px co-treated group. Allo (25 mg/kg body weight) and Pc (25 mg/kg body weight) treatments were received 5 days before and 4 days after Px intoxication for 4 days (50 mg/kg body weight). Serum prostaglandin E2 (PG-E2) and liver and kidney functions were measured. Oxidative stress markers were evaluated in the three tissues. Histopathological features and caspase-3 immunoexpression were monitored Px triggered gastric ulceration, increased indices of liver and kidney functions, decreased PG-E2 levels, provoked oxidative stress, and activated caspase-3 immunoexpression. Co-treatment with Allo demonstrated protective activities. Alloimperatorin exhibited anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities.