DA-9601, a Phytomedicine Derived from Artemisia asiatica, Blocks the Increased Susceptibility of Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy to Ethanol Damage

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is part of a complex syndrome which occurs as a complication of chronic liver disease and portal hypertension. The gastric mucosa in these patients shows typical congestion of ‘mosaic-like’ pattern and vulnerable to various noxious agents such as NSAIDs and ethanol. We previously reported that DA-9601, a quality-controlled extract from Artemisia asiatica, exhibits cytoprotection against various gastritis models. In the present study we investigated the effect of DA-9601 on ethanol-induced gastric damage in PHG rats. Experimental PHG was produced by CBD ligation in SD rats. DA-9601 was orally administered at a dose of 30 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks.