Abstract
Alchornea triplinervia (Spreng.) Muell. Arg (Euphorbiaceae) is a medicinal plant commonly used by people living in the Cerrado region of Brazil to treat gastrointestinal ulcers. We previously described the gastroprotective action of methanolic extract (ME) of Alchornea triplinervia and the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) in increasing of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) gastric levels in the mucosa. In this work we evaluated the effect of EAF in promoting the healing process in rats with acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers. In addition, toxicity was investigated during treatment with EAF. After 14 days of treatment with EAF, the potent stimulator of gastric cell proliferation contributed to the acceleration of gastric ulcer healing. Upon immunohistochemical analysis, we observed a pronounced expression of COX-2, mainly in the submucosal layer. The 14-day EAF treatment also significantly increased the number of neutrophils in the gastric mucosa regeneration area. The EAF induced angiogenesis on gastric mucosa, observed as an increase of the number of blood vessels supplying the stomach in rats treated with EAF. Oral administration for 14 days of the ethyl acetate fraction from Alchornea triplinervia accelerated the healing of gastric ulcers in rats by promoting epithelial cell proliferation, increasing the number of neutrophils and stimulation of mucus production. This fraction, which contained mainly phenolic compounds, contributed to gastric mucosa healing.
Highlights
Gastric ulcers are a serious problem in many parts of the World
According to this inventory the leaves and other aerial parts of Alchornea triplinervia are commonly used in folk medicine as a tea to treat gastric disturbances [8]
The leaves and aerial parts of Alchornea triplinervia are commonly used in folk medicine as a tea to treat gastric disturbances and we have reported the antisecretory, anti-Helicobacter pylori and gastroprotective effects of this species [9]
Summary
Gastric ulcers are a serious problem in many parts of the World. The aetiology of gastroduodenal ulcers is influenced by various factors and ulcers are worsened by inadequate dietary habits, excessive ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), stress, hereditary predisposition and infection by Helicobacter pylori [1]. Several pharmaceutical products have been employed for the treatment of gastroduodenal ulcers and peptic diseases, resulting in decreased mortality and morbidity rates. They are not completely effective and they produce many adverse effects [2]. An ethnopharmacological inventory taken in the Cerrado formation of central Brazil revealed a number of medicinal plants used to treat gastric pain and gastritis. According to this inventory the leaves and other aerial parts of Alchornea triplinervia are commonly used in folk medicine as a tea to treat gastric disturbances [8]. We investigated the sub-acute toxicity of EAF and cimetidine in rats after oral administration for 14 days
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