title: Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne: a Brazilian medicinal plant with gastric and duodenal anti-ulcer and antidiarrheal effects in experimental rodent models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne (Fabaceae) is a medicinal species commonly found in the Brazilian savannah. The stem bark of this medicinal plant, popularly known as "jatobá-do-cerrado", is widely used in tea form to treat gastric pain, ulcers, diarrhoea and inflammation, whereas its fruits pulp is edible.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the antidiarrheal and anti-ulcer effects of a methanolic extract derived from the stem bark (MHs) and diet with fruit pulp of H. stigonocarpa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antidiarrheal action of MHs was measured against the intestinal motility and diarrhoea induced by castor oil in mice. The preventive action of MHs (50, 100, 150 and 200mg/Kg, by oral route (p.o.)) against peptic ulcers was evaluated in experimental rodent models challenged with absolute ethanol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) (200mg/Kg, p.o.) and cysteamine (200mg/Kg, p.o.). The main anti-ulcer mechanisms of action of MHs were analysed as follows: evaluation of the gastric juice parameters, assessment of mucus adherence to the gastric wall, determination of the role of nitric oxide (NO) and sulfhydryl compounds (SH), glutathione (GSH) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The healing effects from MHs (200mg/Kg) and diet with fruit pulp (10%) against gastric and duodenal ulcers induced by acetic acid were also evaluated by treating rats over 7 or 14 consecutive days of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The phytochemical profile of MHs and fruit pulp indicated the presence of phenolic compounds (mainly flavonoids and condensed tannins). MHs (200mg/Kg, p.o.) displayed an antidiarrheal effect and were able to protect gastric mucosa against absolute ethanol (68% protection) and also against the injurious effect of NSAIDs (86% protection) when compared to the group treated with vehicle. These results were accompanied by the prevention of GSH depletion and an inhibition of MPO activity when compared to animals treated with vehicle (P<0.05). MHs markedly protected duodenal mucosa against injuries caused by cysteamine (98%) and also against I/R induced gastric ulceration (80%) when compared to the group treated with vehicle. Furthermore, MHs also prevented the GSH depletion of gastric mucosa relative to the control group treated with vehicle. NO appeared to be involved in this gastroprotective effect. MHs and diet with fruit pulp clearly demonstrated gastric healing actions after treatment for 7 (MHs - 53% inhibition) or 14 days (MHs - 60% inhibition and fruit pulp - 61% inhibition). Treatment with diet with fruit pulp for 7 days demonstrates a significant duodenal healing effect (71% inhibition) without any signs of toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MHs clearly demonstrate antidiarrheal, gastroprotective and cicatrising effects in experimental gastric and duodenal ulcers, and the diet with fruit pulp displays duodenal healing effects. The observed effects may be associated with the antioxidant effect, which may be due the presence of condensed tannins and flavonoids in the bark and fruit of H. stigonocarpa.
authors: Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP - Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, CEP 18618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Rodrigues Orsi
authors: Flávia
authors: F
authors: Bonamin
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Aparecida Severi
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Cássia Santos
authors: Wagner
authors: W
authors: Vilegas
authors: Clélia Akiko
authors: CA
authors: Hiruma-Lima
authors: Luiz Claudio Di
authors: LC
authors: Stasi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D002368:Castor Oil; D003543:Cysteamine; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005638:Fruit; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D052597:Hymenaea / Q000737:chemistry*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018547:Plant Stems; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013634:Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013634:Tannins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D003543:Cysteamine; D002368:Castor Oil; D009195:Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione