title: The anti-ulcerogenic effects of Curatella americana L.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: São Paulo State University-Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, cp 610, CEP 18618-000, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. hiruma@ibb.unesp.br
authors.forename: Clélia Akiko
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hiruma-Lima
authors.forename: Clenilson Martins
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Hélio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kushima
authors.forename: Thiago Mello
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Solange de Fatima
authors.initials: Sde F
authors.lastname: Lolis
authors.forename: Shirley Barbosa
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Feitosa
authors.forename: Luciana Pietro
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Magri
authors.forename: Fernanda Rocha
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Maira Miranda
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cola
authors.forename: Fábio Donizete Pezzutto
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Wagner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vilegas
authors.forename: Alba Regina Monteiro
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Souza Brito
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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