Background: Acetylsalicylic acid is in common clinical use but has the side effect of causing gastric mucosal erosions and selective injury to parietal cells.

Aim: To explore if prior treatment with Prunus dulcis (almond) had a protective effect against acetylsalicylic acid induced injury.

Study design: Experimental study.

Methodology: Albino mice weighing 30 to 40 grams were given two drops of almond oil without peel and 300 mg of finely ground whole almond kernel by oral gavage for sixty days followed by 400 mg/kg body weight of acetylsalicylic acid orally. Gastric mucosal damage was observed and recorded as ulcer index. The number of parietal cells/ sq. micrometer and area of parietal cells were observed and recorded under microscope in formalin fixed H and E stained sections. Data analyzed by SPSS 22.0v.

Results: Mucosal damage, distortion of gastric glands and damage to parietal cells was pronounced in the positive control animals. The number of surviving parietal cells after acetylsalicylic acid insult in animals given almond oil was significantly higher when compared with positive control animals (p<0.001) and even better in animals receiving whole ground almond kernel. The area of parietal cells was also similarly larger in the treated animals.

Conclusion: This study concluded Prunus dulcis offers protection against acute gastric mucosal injury and damage to the gastric parietal cells caused by acetylsalicylic acid in mice.

Keywords: Prunus Dulcis, Parietal Cells, Gastric Erosions and Acetylsalicylic Acid.