Indigofera suffruticosa Mill as new source of healing agent: Involvement of prostaglandin and mucus and heat shock proteins

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2011-09, Vol.137 (1), p.192-198
• Main Authors: Luiz-Ferreira, Anderson, Cola, Maira, Barbastefano, Victor, Farias-Silva, Elisangela, Calvo, Tamara Regina, de Almeida, Ana Beatriz Albino, Pellizzon, Claudia Helena, Hiruma-Lima, Clélia Akiko, Vilegas, Wagner, Souza-Brito, Alba Regina Monteiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acetates; Acetates - chemistry; Animals; Anti-Ulcer Agents - chemistry; Anti-Ulcer Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Ulcer Agents - pharmacology; Antiulcerogenic activity; Biological and medical sciences; cerrado; Cytoprotection; Disease Models, Animal; Ethanol; Gastroprotection; General pharmacology; Heat shock protein; heat shock proteins; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Indigofera; Indigofera - chemistry; Indigofera suffruticosa; inflammation; leaves; Male; mechanism of action; Medical sciences; Methanol - chemistry; mucus; Mucus - metabolism; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; proliferating cell nuclear antigen; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen - metabolism; prostaglandins; Prostaglandins - metabolism; Rats; rodents; savannas; secretion; Solvents - chemistry; Stomach - drug effects; Stomach - metabolism; Stomach - pathology; Stomach Ulcer - chemically induced; Stomach Ulcer - drug therapy; Stomach Ulcer - metabolism; Stomach Ulcer - pathology; stomach ulcers; Sulfhydryl Compounds - metabolism; Water - chemistry; Wound Healing - drug effects
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.05.006

Indigofera suffruticosa is specie typical of the “Cerrado” or Brazilian savannah; it is a member of the Fabaceae family – in folkmedicine is used for gastric disorders, infection and inflammation. Ethyl acetate fraction (AcF) and aqueous fraction (AqF) of the methanolic extract of I. suffruticosa leaves were evaluated against acute gastric ulcer. The AcF fraction was selected to assess its activity in ulcer healing and its gastroprotective effects via mucus and gastric secretion. The gastroprotective action of AcF and AqF fractions were evaluated in a rodent experimental model. The action mechanisms, involvements of the antisecretory action, mucus and prostaglandin production, toxicological and healing activity of the AcF (100mg/kg, p.o.) were evaluated. We also used histological analysis (HE and PAS) and immunohistochemical (PCNA and HSP-70) assays to evaluate the effects of I. suffruticosa. AcF significantly inhibited the gastric mucosal damage caused by ethanol. This effect was statistically significant in 100mg/kg group compared vehicle. AcF did not interfered with gastric secretion, significantly increased the PGE2 and mucus production (validated in PAS technique). The gastroprotection was attenuated by pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide, but not L-NAME. In acid-acetic-induced ulcer model AcF accelerated ulcer healing. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed induction of proliferating cell (PCNA) and heat shock protein (HSP 70). These results showed that AcF acted as gastroprotective agent stimulating prostaglandin, mucus and HSP70.