Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Rhizophora mangle L., as a potential antiulcerogenic drug: Chemical composition of active extract

Abstract

Rhizophora mangle L. is a vegetal species widely distributed in Cuba and other Caribbean countries. This species is characterized by several ethnobotanical activities as antiseptic, astringent, as well for treating skin ulcers. In the present work, we describe a pharmacological, toxicological and chemical evaluation of this plant by its use in human medicine for the treatment of gastroduodenal ulcers. The acute gastric ulcer’s models were: acute gastric ulcers induced by ethanol; indomethacin; pyloric ligation; stress and immobility in cool in mice. The antisecretor effect of the extract was evaluated by pyloric ligation model. Other pharmacological tests were planned with the freeze - dried extract of R. mangle , as part of the evaluation on other systems to known secondary or adverse effects. These tests included the activity of the antiulcer active extract on intestinal transit, activity over arterial pressure, ileum activity and absorption of glucose in gut. The chemical profile of this extract by fatty acids was studied by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Some toxicological studies (genotoxicity) were carried out. The aqueous extract of R. mangle bark showed gastroprotective, antisecretor effects, and it induced a recovery of PGE 2 levels in doses-dependence manner comparable of knowledge antiulcerogenic medicaments. No effect was observed by arterial pressure in rats and the intestinal transit was inhibited by R. mangle . The intestinal motility was stimulated. Antiulcer active extract inhibit the glucose absoprtion in gut. This extract presented 4% of saturated and not saturated long chain’s fatty acids (C10:0 at C24:0). No toxicological signs were obtained by this extract.