title: Antiulcerogenic action of ethanolic extract of the resin from Virola surinamensis Warb. (Myristicaceae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Virola surinamensis (Myristicaceae), popularly known as "mucuíba", "ucuuba" or "ucuúba do igapó" is a large tree that grows abundantly in "Várzea" forest and on river banks in the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Tocantins. The resin obtained by cuts on the stem bark is a reputed folk remedy in its natural form for the treatment of ulcer, gastritis, inflammation and cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present work evaluated the pharmacological activity of the resin obtained from bark of V. surinamensis as antiulcerogenic in experimental in vivo model in order to observe whether its traditional use is justified.
  
  
  METHODS
  The preventive action of ethanolic extract of V. surinamensis was evaluated in experimental in vivo models in rodents that simulated this disease in human gastric mucosa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral administration of acidified ethanol solution produced severe hemorrhagic lesions in glandular mucosa with ulcerative lesion of 50+/-11.5mm. In animals pretreated with V. surinamensis (500 mg/kg, p.o.) a significant inhibition of mucosal injury of 2.40+/-0.56 mm (95% inhibition) was detected. The V. surinamensis, at the same dose, also reduced significantly (p<0.05) the formation of gastric lesions induced by indomethacin (39%), stress (45%) and by pylorus ligature in mice (31%) when compared to animals treated with vehicle. The extract from V. surinamensis exerts gastroprotective action only when this extract contacts gastric mucosa (oral route) with increased pH values and reduced H+ concentration of gastric contents. The ethanolic extract of V. surinamensis resin was analyzed by TLC and spectrometric methods (NMR and ES-MS) and the main constituent of this extract was epicatechin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that the epicatechin present in V. surinamensis resin may be among active principles responsible for the antiulcer activity shown by the tested resin but their used suggest carefulness because toxicological symptoms mentioned by population.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Department, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University-UNESP, c.p. 510, 18618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. hiruma@ibb.unesp.br
authors.forename: Clélia Akiko
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hiruma-Lima
authors.forename: Leonia Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: Ana Beatriz Albino
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Pietro Magri
authors.forename: Lourdes Campaner
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: dos Santos
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; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D000431:Ethanol; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D026324:Myristicaceae; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000737:chemistry; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012116:Resins, Plant; D000431:Ethanol; D002927:Cimetidine; D002392:Catechin; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D007213:Indomethacin