Preclinical evaluation of anti-Helicobacter spp. activity of Hippocratea celastroides Kunth and its acute and sub-acute toxicity.
BACKGROUND
Hippocratea celastroides Kunth, commonly known as "cancerina", is used in Mexican Traditional Medicine for the treatment of gastric and intestinal infections, systemic and skin inflammation, injuries and gastritis. The aim of this research was to assess the anti-Helicobacter pylori activities of hydro-ethanolic root-bark extracts from Hippocratea celastroides Kunth in naturally infected dogs, after testing their acute and subacute toxicities in mice.


METHODS
To determine in vivo acute toxicity, a hydro-ethanolic extract was obtained and administered orally in female and male Balb-C mice, at doses ranging from 2000 to 5000 mg/kg. For the subacute study, a hydro-ethanolic extract was given to male and female Balb-C mice at doses ranging from 200 to 2000 mg/kg body weight. The animals were observed daily over a period of 42 days for signs of toxicity. In the pre-clinical anti-Helicobacter spp. assay, 60 dogs were included. Eighteen and 19 dogs for the experimental and control groups respectively, concluded the study. The experimental treatment consisted of H. celastroides hydro-ethanolic extract and the control treatment of amoxicillin-clarithromycin-omeprazole.


RESULTS
Oral LD50(lethal dose 50) values for hydro-ethanolic extract were indeterminable at the highest tested doses. Under the subacute administration, neither mortality nor any sign of toxicity were observed when the hydro-ethanolic extract was administered. There were no significant alterations in biochemical parameters. The prevalence of Helicobacter spp. infection in dogs was 97.1 % for the experimental group and 100 % for the control group. Effectiveness was of 33.3 and 55 % in the experimental and control group respectively. The oral administration of H. celastroides was well-tolerated and safe.


CONCLUSIONS
The root-bark of H. celastroides produced no signs of toxicity, and manifested pharmacological activity that indicated the possibility of an alternative treatment for H. pylori infection. Effectiveness is still low so it is necessary to continue research.
Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Av. Universidad 1001. Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, 62209, Morelos, México.
Griselda
G
García-Alonso
Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001. Col Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, 62209, Morelos, México.
Antonio
A
Monroy-Noyola
Consultorio Médico de Diagnóstico Gastroenterológico y Quirúrgico, Domingo Diez, Miraval, 62270, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Armando
A
Contreras-Arellano
Hospital Veterinario Animal's, Av. Emiliano Zapata 833, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
José Fernando
JF
Mariscal-Durand
Hospital General de Cuernavaca "Dr. José G Parres", Domingo Diez, Miraval, 62270, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Yolanda
Y
Gálvez-Molina
Hospital General de Cuernavaca "Dr. José G Parres", Domingo Diez, Miraval, 62270, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Alejandro
A
Vázquez-Velázquez
Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001. Col Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, 62209, Morelos, México.
Sara
S
García-Jimenez
Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Av. Universidad 1001. Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, 62209, Morelos, México.
Pablo
P
Nuñez
Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Av. Universidad 1001. Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, 62209, Morelos, México. ataketa@uaem.mx.
Alexandre
A
Cardoso-Taketa
Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Av. Universidad 1001. Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, 62209, Morelos, México. luisav@uaem.mx.
María Luisa
ML
Villarreal
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D031320:Hippocrateaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry
D010936:Plant Extracts
Anti-Helicobacter spp; Antimicrobial; Hippocratea celastroides; Mexican traditional medicine