title: In vivo inhibition of gastric acid secretion by the aqueous extract of Scoparia dulcis L. in rodents.
abstract: The freeze-dried aqueous extract (AE) from the aerial parts of Scoparia dulcis was tested for its effects on experimental gastric hypersecretion and ulcer in rodents. Administration of AE to animals with 4h pylorus ligature potently reduced the gastric secretion with ED(50)s of 195 mg/kg (rats) and 306 mg/kg (mice). The AE also inhibited the histamine- or bethanechol-stimulated gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated mice with similar potency suggesting inhibition of the proton pump. Bio-guided purification of the AE yielded a flavonoid-rich fraction (BuF), with a specific activity 4-8 times higher than the AE in the pylorus ligature model. BuF also inhibited the hydrolysis of ATP by H(+),K(+)-ATPase with an IC(50) of 500 microg/ml, indicating that the inhibition of gastric acid secretion of Scoparia dulcis is related to the inhibition of the proton pump. Furthermore, the AE inhibited the establishment of acute gastric lesions induced in rats by indomethacin (ED(50)=313 mg/kg, p.o.) and ethanol (ED(50)=490 mg/kg, p.o.). No influence of the AE on gastrointestinal transit allowed discarding a possible CNS or a cholinergic interaction in the inhibition of gastric secretion by the AE. Collectively, the present data pharmacologically validates the popular use of Scoparia dulcis in gastric disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Section, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 04044-020 Rua 03 de Maio 100, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. sm2418@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mesía-Vela
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bielavsky
authors.forename: Luce Maria Brandão
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Sonia Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.forename: Maria Teresa R
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lima-Landman
authors.forename: Caden
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Souccar
authors.forename: Antonio José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lapa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011708:Pylorus / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D036721:Scoparia / Q000737:chemistry*; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water