title: The Preventive Effect on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Lesions of the Medicinal Plant Plumeria rubra: Involvement of the Latex Proteins in the NO/cGMP/K ATP Signaling Pathway.
abstract: Plumeria rubra (Apocynaceae) is frequently used in folk medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, hepatitis, and tracheitis, among other infirmities. The aim of this study was to investigate the gastroprotective potential of a protein fraction isolated from the latex of Plumeria rubra (PrLP) against ethanol-induced gastric lesions and describe the underlying mechanisms. In a dose-dependent manner, the pretreatment with PrLP prevented ethanol-induced gastric lesions in mice after single intravenous administration. The gastroprotective mechanism of PrLP was associated with the involvement of prostaglandins and balance of oxidant/antioxidant factors. Secondarily, the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway and activation of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents were also demonstrated as part of the mechanism. This study shows that proteins extracted from the latex of P. rubra prevent gastric lesions induced in experimental animals. Also, the results support the use of the plant in folk medicine.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFC, Coronel Nunes de Melo 1127, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nylane Maria Nunes
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: de Alencar
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFC, Coronel Nunes de Melo 1127, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rachel Sindeaux Paiva
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário Estácio do Ceará, Via Corpvs, Rua Eliseu Uchoa Becco, No. 600, Bairro Água Fria, 60810-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ingrid Samantha Tavares
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: de Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFC, Coronel Nunes de Melo 1127, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Bastos
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFC, Coronel Nunes de Melo 1127, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lyara Barbosa Nogueira
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFC, Coronel Nunes de Melo 1127, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tamiris de Fátima Goebel
authors.initials: Tde F
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFC, Coronel Nunes de Melo 1127, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luana David
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: do Carmo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFC, Coronel Nunes de Melo 1127, Rodolfo Teófilo, 60430-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larisse Mota
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, UFC, Campus do Pici, Caixa Postal 6033, 60451-970 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio Viana
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ramos