Gastric and duodenal antiulcer activity of alkaloids: a review

• Published in: Molecules 2008-12, Vol.13 (12), p.3198-3223
• Main Authors: de Sousa Falcão, Heloina, Leite, Jacqueline Alves, Barbosa-Filho, José Maria, de Athayde-Filho, Petrônio Filgueiras, de Oliveira Chaves, Maria Célia, Moura, Marcelo Dantas, Ferreira, Anderson Luiz, de Almeida, Ana Beatriz Albino, Souza-Brito, Alba Regina Monteiro, de Fátima Formiga Melo Diniz, Margareth, Batista, Leônia Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaloids; Alkaloids - chemistry; Alkaloids - therapeutic use; Animals; Anti-Ulcer Agents - chemistry; Anti-Ulcer Agents - therapeutic use; Antiulcer activity; Duodenal Ulcer - drug therapy; Models, Animal; Peptic ulcer; Review; Stomach Ulcer - drug therapy
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules13123198

Peptic ulcer disease is a deep gastrointestinal erosion disorder that involves the entire mucosal thickness and can even penetrate the muscular mucosa. Numerous natural products have been evaluated as therapeutics for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including this one. These products usually derive from plant and animal sources that contain active constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins and others. The alkaloids are natural nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites mostly derived from amino acids and found in about 20% of plants. There has been considerable pharmacological research into the antiulcer activity of these compounds. In this work we review the literature on alkaloids with antiulcer activity, which covers about sixty-one alkaloids, fifty-five of which have activity against this disease when induced in animals.