title: Gastroprotective effects and antimicrobial activity of Lithraea molleoides and isolated compounds against Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lithraea molleoides (Vell.) Engl. (Anacardiaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in South America to treat various ailments, including diseases of the digestive system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the in vivo antiulcer and antimicrobial activities against Helicobacter pylori of L. molleoides and its isolated compounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methanolic extract 250 and 500 mg/kg, (LmE 250 and LmE 500, respectively) and infusions, 10 g and 20 g en 100mL (LmI 10 and LmI 20, respectively) of L. molleoides was evaluated for antiulcer activity against 0.6N HCl, 0.2N NaOH, 200mg/kg acetilsalicilic acid and absolute ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. The degree of erosion in the glandular part of the stomach was assessed from a scoring system. Acute toxicity in mice was also evaluated. The antiulcer effect of the isolated compounds (catechol, mannitol, rutin, gallic acid, ferulic acid and caffeic acid, 100mg/kg) was evaluated against absolute ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. The anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of L. molleoides and isolated compounds was performed using broth dilution methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LmE 250, LmE 500, LmI 10 and LmI 20 produced significant inhibition on the ulcer index in 0.6N HCl, 0.2N NaOH, 200mg/kg acetilsalicilic acid and absolute ethanol- induced gastric ulcers in rats. The isolated compounds, catechol, mannitol, rutin, ferulic acid and caffeic acid were active in absolute ethanol- induced gastric ulcers in rats. L. molleoides and different compounds showed antimicrobial activity in all strains tested. The lowest MIC value (0. 5 μg/mL) was obtained with catechol in six of eleven strains assayed. No signs of toxicity were observed with doses up to 2g/kg in an acute toxicity assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that L. molleoides displays potential antiulcerogenic and antimicrobial activities and the identification of active principles could support the use of this plant for the treatment of digestive affections.
authors.affiliation: Área de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco y Pedernera, CP 5700 San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Filomena
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Garro
authors.affiliation: Área de Microbiología, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco y Pedernera, CP 5700, San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: Angel Gabriel
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Salinas Ibáñez
authors.affiliation: Área de Microbiología, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco y Pedernera, CP 5700, San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alba Edith
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.affiliation: Área de Microbiología, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco y Pedernera, CP 5700, San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: Andrea Celeste
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Arismendi Sosa
authors.affiliation: Área de Farmacología, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco y Pedernera, CP 5700, San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pelzer
authors.affiliation: Área de INTEQUI-Química Orgánica. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco y Pedernera, CP 5700, San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: Área de Farmacología, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco y Pedernera, CP 5700, San Luis, Argentina. Electronic address: alemaria@unsl.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Alejandra Olivia
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Maria
mesh_terms: D027926:Anacardiaceae; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Anacardiaceae; Antimicrobial; Caffeic acid (PubChem CID: 689043); Catechol (PubChem CID: 289); Ferulic acid (PubChem CID: 445858); Gallic acid (PubChem CID: 370); Gastric ulcer; Gastroprotection; Helicobacter pylori; Lithraea molleoides; Mannitol (PubChem CID: 6251); Rutin (PubChem CID: 5280805)