Antiulcerogenic action of ethanolic extract of the resin from Virola surinamensis Warb. (Myristicaceae).
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.
Hiruma-Lima
Clélia Akiko
CA
Physiology Department, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University-UNESP, c.p. 510, 18618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. hiruma@ibb.unesp.br
Batista
Leonia Maria
LM
de Almeida
Ana Beatriz Albino
AB
de Pietro Magri
Luciana
L
dos Santos
Lourdes Campaner
LC
Vilegas
Wagner
W
Souza Brito
Alba Regina Monteiro
AR
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
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