Gastroprotective effects (in rodents) of a flavonoid rich fraction obtained from Syngonanthus macrolepsis.
OBJECTIVE
Syngonanthus macrolepis, popularly known in Brazil as 'sempre-vivas', is a plant from the family Eriocaulaceae, it is found in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. The species contains a variety of constituents, including flavonoids with gastroprotective effect. In this work, a flavonoid-rich fraction (Sm-FRF) obtained from scapes of S. macrolepis was investigated for preventing gastric ulceration in mice and rats.


METHODS
The activity was evaluated in models of induced gastric ulcer (absolute ethanol, stress, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pylorus ligation). The cytoprotective mechanisms of the Sm-FRF in relation to sulfhydryl (SH) groups, nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidant enzymes were also evaluated.


RESULTS
The Sm-FRF (100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced gastric injury in all models, and did not alter gastric juice parameters after pylorus ligation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate significant gastroprotective activity for the Sm-FRF, which probably involves the participation of both SH groups and the antioxidant system. Both are integral parts of the gastrointestinal mucosa's cytoprotective mechanisms against aggressive factors.
Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Farmacologia do Trato Gastrintestinal, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, PB, Brazil; Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Leônia Maria
LM
Batista
Ana Beatriz Albino
AB
de Almeida
Gedson Rodrigues de Morais
GR
Lima
Heloina de Sousa
Hde S
Falcão
Luciana de Pietro
Lde P
Magri
Anderson
A
Luiz-Ferreira
Lourdes Campaner
LC
dos Santos
Clélia Akiko
CA
Hiruma-Lima
Wagner
W
Vilegas
Alba Regina Monteiro Souza
AR
Brito
D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D039262:Eriocaulaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005750:Gastric Juice; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D008026:Ligation; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D009569:Nitric Oxide
Eriocaulaceae; Syngonanthus macrolepsis; flavonoid; gastroprotective activity; medicinal plants