title: Hancornia speciosa: indications of gastroprotective, healing and anti-Helicobacter pylori actions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mangaba (Hancornia speciosa Gomez) is a medicinal plant frequently cited in ethnopharmacological inventories of the central region of Brazil against gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhoea, ulcer, gastritis and stomach ache.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The hydroalcoholic extract (HE) and infusion (BI) of Hancornia speciosa bark were investigated for their ability to prevent and heal rodent gastric ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The preventive and healing action of both preparations of Hancornia speciosa were evaluated in experimental models in rodents that simulated this disease in human gastric mucosa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BI did not exert gastroprotective effect, in contrast to HE (500mg/kg, p.o.) that decreased (p<0.05) the severity of gastric damage induced by HCl/ethanol (52%), indomethacin/bethanechol (51%), stress (52%) or pylorus ligature experiments (54%). HE increased (p<0.05) the pH and decreased acid output of gastric juice. This extract promoted increase of mucus amount (3.62mg/wt. tissue vs. 5.81mg/wt. tissue), healing action (67%) and displayed anti-Helicobacter pylori effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antiulcer action of Hancornia speciosa resulted in increase of gastric mucus formation and antioxidant properties of polymeric proanthocyanidins present in the bark composition of this medicinal plant.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Department, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago de Mello
authors.initials: Tde M
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Clenilson Martins
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Hélio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kushima
authors.forename: Tais Maria
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Bauab
authors.forename: Wagner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.forename: Cláudia Helena
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pellizzon
authors.forename: Alba Regina Monteiro Souza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Clélia Akiko
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hiruma-Lima