Protective effects of Croton campestris A. St-Hill in different ulcer models in rodents: Evidence for the involvement of nitric oxide and prostaglandins

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2014-04, Vol.153 (2), p.469-477
• Main Authors: Júnior, Francisco E.B., de Oliveira, Dayanne R., Boligon, Aline Augusti, Athayde, Margareth Linde, Kamdem, Jean Paul, Macedo, Giulianna Echeverria, da Silva, Gustavo Felipe, de Menezes, Irwin R.A., Costa, José G.M., Coutinho, Henrique Douglas Melo, Kerntopf, Marta R., Posser, Thaís
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Croton; Croton campestris; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Gastroprotection; Male; Mice; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Peptic ulcer; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Roots; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins - metabolism; Protective Agents - isolation & purification; Protective Agents - therapeutic use; Stomach Ulcer - metabolism; Stomach Ulcer - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.03.005

Croton campestris A. St.-Hill., popularly known as “velame do campo”, is a species native from savannah area of Northeast Brazil, which is used by traditional communities in folk medicine for a variety of health problems, especially detoxification, inflammation and gastritis. The present study investigates the possible gastric antiulcer activity of Croton campestris root extract (CCRE) and mechanisms of action underlying this effect. Gastric lesions were induced in mice by ethanol, acidified ethanol and indomethacin. CCRE was previously administered orally in doses ranging from 50 to 750mg/kg. Stomach lesions were measured. The involvement of Nitric Oxide (NO), prostaglandins (PGEs), ATP-dependent K+ channel and adrenergic receptor was investigated through specific inhibitors. CCRE produced significant antiulcer activity against absolute ethanol, acidified ethanol and indomethacin induced gastric lesions. The pretreatment with L-NAME (10mg/kg, p.o.), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis and indomethacin (10mg/kg, s.c.), an inhibitor of prostaglandin production, reversed the antiulcer action of CCRE. Taking together, these results suggest that the antiulcer activity of CCRE is dependent of NO and prostaglandin pathways possibly due to its ability to stimulate the synthesis of NO, and activation of endogenous prostaglandin production. Therefore, the use of CCRE in traditional Brazilian medicine against gastric disorders has a scientific basis. [Display omitted]