Novel role of Zn(II)–curcumin in enhancing cell proliferation and adjusting proinflammatory cytokine-mediated oxidative damage of ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcers

► Ethanol consumption induces gastric ulcers and low levels of zinc. ► Zn(II)–curcumin was a metallocomplexes of curcumin, stimulated cell proliferation and blocked the ulcer lesions. ► Zn(II)–curcumin revealed more patent antioxidant than curcumin. ► Zn(II)–curcumin processes the anti-inflammatory effect by downregulation of TNF-α and IL-6. ► Zn(II)–curcumin enhanced mucosal barrier defenses by adjusting the proinflammatory cytokine-mediated oxidative damage. Alcohol consumption can induce gastric ulcers and zinc deficiency. Zinc complexes were reported to have anti-ulcer activity as it acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Zn(II)–curcumin complex and its solid dispersions (SDs) were synthesized and evaluated for its gastroprotective activity and mechanism against ethanol-induced ulcer. The Swiss murine fibroblast cell line (3T3) was used as an alternative in vitro model to evaluate the effects of Zn(II)–curcumin on cell proliferation. Zn(II)–curcumin were administered orally for seven consecutive days prior to induction of ulcers using ethanol. Gross and microscopic lesions, immunological and biochemical parameters were taken into consideration. The results showed that solid dispersions (SDs) of Zn(II)–curcumin (2.5–20μM) enhanced the proliferation of 3T3 cells more significantly than curcumin at the same concentrations (P