Abstract
Peptic ulcer is a common disease characterized by lesions that affect the mucosa of the esophagus, stomach and/or duodenum, and may extend into the muscular layer of the mucosa. Natural products have played an important role in the process of development and discovery of new drugs, due to their wide structural diversity and present, mostly specific and selective biological activities. Among natural products the alkaloids, biologically active secondary metabolites, that can be found in plants, animals or microorganisms stand out. The alkaloids are compounds consisting of a basic nitrogen atom that may or may not be part of a heterocyclic ring. This review will describe 15 alkaloids with antiulcer activity in animal models and in vitro studies.
Highlights
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is an illness characterized by lesions in the gastrointestinal mucosa that may penetrate the muscularis layer
In a previous paper we have presented a review on plants of the American continent with antiulcer activity [39], and the gastroprotective, duodenal and peptic antiulcer activity of flavonoids [40], tannins [41] and alkaloids [42]
Intravenous administration of rutaecarpine in rats at doses of 100 or 300 mg/kg significantly reduced the ulcer index and pH value when compared to the control group in ulcer models induced by both acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and stress
Summary
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is an illness characterized by lesions in the gastrointestinal mucosa that may penetrate the muscularis layer. The gastric mucosa is continuously exposed to harmful substances and factors, whether endogenous as acid secretion, peptic activity and biliary secretion or exogenous as the presence of Helicobacter pylori, the use excessive of alcohol, tobacco and anti-inflammatory non-steroidal (NSAIDs), besides stressful life habits [5,6]. Despite this assault, under normal conditions the gastric mucosa is able to resist damage from 0.1 mol/L HCl and pepsin present in the gastric lumen by a variety of defense mechanisms which include as a first line the defense pre-epithelial component, mucus-bicarbonate-phospholipid; an epithelial component, the continuous layer of epithelial cells connected by tight gap junctions, which generates bicarbonate, mucus, phospholipids, trefoil peptides, prostaglandins, and heat shock proteins; In addition, there are other mechanisms such as cell renewal; continuous blood flow; production of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide; and sensory innervation [7]. The alkaloids cited in this review were selected according to pharmacological action demonstrated in specific experimental models to evaluate the anti-ulcer activity and/or through studies in order to discover their mechanism of action
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
