Byrsonima fagifolia: an integrative study to validate the gastroprotective, healing, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial and mutagenic action.
BACKGROUND
Ethnopharmacological survey indicated leaves of Byrsonima fagifolia Nied. (Malpighiaceae) against gastrointestinal disorders.


OBJECTIVE
The methanolic extract from the leaves of Byrsonima fagifolia (denominated BF) was evaluated for toxic, mutagenic, gastroprotective, antidiarrheal, antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities.


METHODS
The preventive and healing action of BF against gastric ulcer was evaluated in experimental models in rodents. We evaluated immunomodulatory (by murine peritoneal macrophages), antidiarrheal (by induced diarrhea with castor oil and intestinal motility) and antibacterial action of BF against standard strain of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Helicobacter pylori. The safety of use of BF was also evaluated by mutagenic (Ames assay) and by analyses of toxicity parameters.


RESULTS
Phytochemical BF profile indicated the presence of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties. BF significantly inhibited gastric lesions induced by ethanol and HCl/ethanol and endogenous mucosal sulphydryl groups (SHs) participated efficaciously in BF gastroprotection. BF blocked development of inflammation process and also has antidiarrheal actions. This extract accelerated the healing of the gastric ulcerated mucosa by stimulating proliferative factors and by increasing production of gastric mucus with no toxic action. The substances responsible for the protective action are concentrated in the ethyl acetate fraction that demonstrated no mutagenic action in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
Byrsonima fagifolia presents gastroprotective, healing and antidiarrheal activities supporting previous claims that its traditional use by Brazilians can treat these gastrointestinal ailments.
Lima
Zeila Pinheiro
ZP
São Paulo State University, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, cp 610, CEP 18618-000, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
dos Santos
Raquel de Cássia
Rde C
Torres
Talita Uliana
TU
Sannomiya
Miriam
M
Rodrigues
Clenilson Martins
CM
dos Santos
Lourdes Campaner
LC
Pellizzon
Cláudia Helena
CH
Rocha
Lúcia Regina Machado
LR
Vilegas
Wagner
W
Souza Brito
Alba Regina Monteiro
AR
Cardoso
Cássia Regina Primila
CR
Varanda
Eliana Aparecida
EA
de Moraes
Helen Pimenta
HP
Bauab
Taís Maria
TM
Carli
Camila
C
Carlos
Iracilda Zeppone
IZ
Hiruma-Lima
Clélia Akiko
CA