The anti-ulcerogenic effects of Curatella americana L.
BACKGROUND
Curatella americana L. (Dilleneaceae) is a medicinal plant very frequently cited as acting against gastrointestinal disorders in ethnopharmacological inventories of the Cerrado region of Brazil.


OBJECTIVE
The ethanolic extract (CEB) and infusion (BI) of Curatella americana bark were investigated for their ability to prevent and heal ulceration of the gastric mucosa.


METHODS
The preventive and healing actions of Curatella americana were evaluated in experimental in vivo models in rodents that simulated this disease in human gastric mucosa.


RESULTS
CEB significantly decreased the severity of gastric damage formation induced by the combination of several gastroprotective models (HCl/ethanol, indomethacin/bethanecol, absolute ethanol, stress and pylorus ligature). But, unlike CEB, the BI did not exert gastroprotective effect. The gastroprotective action of CEB involved antisecretory action, augmentation of gastric mucus (48%) and participation of endogenous sulfhydryl compounds that increase efficacy of barrier mucosa against injurious agents. CEB also presents effective healing action in chronic gastric disease (1.90+/-0.55 vs. 6.86+/-0.46 mm2)in the control) and its action mechanisms consisted of increasing the PGE2 (40%) and somatostatin levels (269%) while decreasing the gastrin level in rat plasma (79%).


CONCLUSIONS
The gastroprotective effect and healing action of Curatella americana involved modulation of PGE2, somatostatin and gastrin levels, probably due to the presence of oligomeric and polymeric proanthocyanidins in the bark.
Hiruma-Lima
Clélia Akiko
CA
São Paulo State University-Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, cp 610, CEP 18618-000, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. hiruma@ibb.unesp.br
Rodrigues
Clenilson Martins
CM
Kushima
Hélio
H
Moraes
Thiago Mello
TM
Lolis
Solange de Fatima
Sde F
Feitosa
Shirley Barbosa
SB
Magri
Luciana Pietro
LP
Soares
Fernanda Rocha
FR
Cola
Maira Miranda
MM
Andrade
Fábio Donizete Pezzutto
FD
Vilegas
Wagner
W
Souza Brito
Alba Regina Monteiro
AR
D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045466:Dilleniaceae; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D005033:Ethylmaleimide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D005755:Gastrins; D006728:Hormones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013004:Somatostatin; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005033:Ethylmaleimide; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester