title: Possible mechanisms of action of Caesalpinia pyramidalis against ethanol-induced gastric damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul. (Fabaceae), known as "catingueira", is an endemic tree of the Northeast region of Brazil. This plant, mainly inner bark and flowers, has been used in traditional medicine to treat gastritis, heartburn, indigestion, stomachache, dysenteries, and diarrheas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ethanol extract of C. pyramidalis inner bark was used in rats via oral route, at the doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, in the ethanol-induced ulcer model and some of the mechanisms underlying to the gastroprotective effect of this plant investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ethanol extract of C. pyramidalis inner bark (100 mg/kg) produced reduction (P < 0.001) on the total lesion area in the ethanol-induced gastric damage. The gastroprotective response caused by the ethanol extract (100 mg/kg) was significantly attenuated (P < 0.05) by intraperitoneal treatment of rats with DL-Propargylglycine (PAG, a cystathionine-γ-lyase inhibitor; 25 mg/kg), but not by Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase; 70 mg/kg), and confirmed by microscopic evidence. The ethanol extract significantly decreased the number of mucosal mast cells compared to vehicle-treated group. The inflammatory cells of the ethanol extract (100 mg/kg)-treated ulcerated rats exhibited an upregulation of interleukin (IL)-4 protein expression and downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, observed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest that the ethanol extract of C. pyramidalis produced dose-related gastroprotective response on ethanol-induce ulcer in rats through mechanisms that involved an interaction with endogenous hydrogen sulfide and reduction of inflammatory process with imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators, supporting the popular usage of this plant.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Cidade Universitária, Av. Marechal Rondon, CEP 49100-000, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Polyana B F
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Cidade Universitária, Av. Marechal Rondon, CEP 49100-000, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Roseli S
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Cidade Universitária, Av. Marechal Rondon, CEP 49100-000, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Estevam
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Cidade Universitária, Av. Marechal Rondon, CEP 49100-000, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bani
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Cidade Universitária, Av. Marechal Rondon, CEP 49100-000, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil. Electronic address: sthomazzi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Thomazzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029911:Caesalpinia; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015847:Interleukin-4; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: Caesalpinia pyramidalis; Ethanol-induced ulcer; Fabaceae; Gastroprotective; Hydrogen sulfide; Inflammation