title: Gastro-protective effects by extracts of Petasites hybridus: the role of inhibition of peptido-leukotriene synthesis.
abstract: Extracts from Petasites hybridus are in therapeutic use for more than 2000 years. They have been claimed to improve gastrointestinal pain, lung-diseases such as asthma and cough, as well as spasms of the urogenital-tract. We have investigated these claims in animal models of gastro-intestinal ulcers and confirmed that alcoholic extracts of Petasites hybridus block the ethanol-induced gastric damage and reduce small intestinal ulcerations induced in rats by indomethacin. Searching for a possible mode of action, we found that ethanolic extracts of Petasites hybridus inhibit the peptido-leukotriene biosynthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages but leave prostaglandin biosynthesis unimpaired. We conclude that the active principle could be useful in the treatment of gastro-intestinal human diseases and that Petasites hybridus may contribute to the inhibition of calcium-dependent processes such as leukotriene biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Erlangen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brune
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bickel
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Peskar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D015289:Leukotrienes; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts