Abarema cochliacarpos: gastroprotective and ulcer-healing activities.
BACKGROUND
Abarema cochliacarpos (Gomes) Barneby & Grimes (Mimosaceae) is a species--in folk medicine of Lagarto city, Sergipe state, northeastern Brazil--reputed to heal gastric ulcer and gastritis.


OBJECTIVE
Chloroform (CE) and methanolic (ME) extracts as well as ethyl acetate fraction (AF), butanolic fraction (AC) and aqueous fraction (AQF) of the methanolic extract of Abarema cochliacarpos bark were evaluated against acute gastric ulcer. The AC fraction was selected to assess its activity in ulcer healing and its gastroprotective effects via mucus and gastric secretion.


METHODS
The gastroprotective action of CE and ME extracts and the fractions of the latter were evaluated in a rodent experimental model. The action mechanisms, involvements of the antisecretory action and mucus production, toxicological and healing activity of the AC (150 mg/kg, p.o.) were evaluated. We also used histological analysis (HE and PAS) and immunohistochemical (PCNA, COX-2, VEGF and HSP-70) assays to evaluate the effects of Abarema cochliacarpos.


RESULTS
CE (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) and ME (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) extracts were able to protect gastric mucosa against absolute ethanol. Respective inhibitions produced were: 65.31% and 83.80% by the first; 91.69%, 96.75% and 99.80% by the second; and 74.24% by the AC fraction. Antisecretory and mucus production effects were exhibited by the AC fraction, which also accelerated the healing of ulcerated gastric mucosa by stimulating proliferation factors (PCNA) and induced healing factors including COX-2, VEGF and HSP-70.


CONCLUSIONS
All these results suggest that Abarema cochliacarpos (Gomes) Barneby & Grimes presents gastroprotective effects and wound-healing properties.
da Silva
Maria Silene
MS
Campinas State University, Departamento de Anatomia, Biologia Celular e Fisiologia e Biofísica-IB, cp 6109, CEP 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil. mariasilene@yahoo.com.br
de Almeida
Ana Cristina Alves
AC
de Faria
Felipe Meira
FM
Luiz-Ferreira
Anderson
A
da Silva
Marcelo Aparecido
MA
Vilegas
Wagner
W
Pellizzon
Cláudia Helena
CH
Brito
Alba Regina Monteiro Souza
AR
D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts