Byrsonima fagifolia: An integrative study to validate the gastroprotective, healing, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial and mutagenic action

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2008-11, Vol.120 (2), p.149-160
• Main Authors: Lima, Zeila Pinheiro, dos Santos, Raquel de Cássia, Torres, Talita Uliana, Sannomiya, Miriam, Rodrigues, Clenilson Martins, dos Santos, Lourdes Campaner, Pellizzon, Cláudia Helena, Rocha, Lúcia Regina Machado, Vilegas, Wagner, Souza Brito, Alba Regina Monteiro, Cardoso, Cássia Regina Primila, Varanda, Eliana Aparecida, de Moraes, Helen Pimenta, Bauab, Taís Maria, Carli, Camila, Carlos, Iracilda Zeppone, Hiruma-Lima, Clélia Akiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal disease models; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - toxicity; Anti-Ulcer Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Ulcer Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Ulcer Agents - toxicity; Antidiarrheal action; antidiarrheal effect; Antidiarrheals - isolation & purification; Antidiarrheals - pharmacology; Antidiarrheals - toxicity; antimicrobial properties; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants - isolation & purification; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Byrsonima; Byrsonima fagifolia; chemical constituents of plants; Disease Models, Animal; Escherichia coli; Free Radical Scavengers - isolation & purification; Free Radical Scavengers - pharmacology; Free Radical Scavengers - toxicity; gastric mucosa; General pharmacology; Healing effect; Helicobacter pylori; Immunologic Factors - isolation & purification; Immunologic Factors - pharmacology; Immunologic Factors - toxicity; immunomodulators; inflammation; leaves; Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects; Macrophages, Peritoneal - metabolism; Male; Malpighiaceae; Malpighiaceae - chemistry; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Medicine, Traditional; Mice; Mutagenicity; Mutagenicity Tests; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; phenolic compounds; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Plant Leaves; protective effect; Rats; Rats, Wistar; rodents; Staphylococcus aureus; Stomach Ulcer - drug therapy; stomach ulcers; Toxicity Tests; traditional medicine
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.07.047

Ethnopharmacological survey indicated leaves of Byrsonima fagifolia Nied. (Malpighiaceae) against gastrointestinal disorders. The methanolic extract from the leaves of Byrsonima fagifolia (denominated BF) was evaluated for toxic, mutagenic, gastroprotective, antidiarrheal, antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities. The preventive and healing action of BF against gastric ulcer was evaluated in experimental models in rodents. We evaluated immunomodulatory (by murine peritoneal macrophages), antidiarrheal (by induced diarrhea with castor oil and intestinal motility) and antibacterial action of BF against standard strain of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Helicobacter pylori. The safety of use of BF was also evaluated by mutagenic (Ames assay) and by analyses of toxicity parameters. Phytochemical BF profile indicated the presence of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties. BF significantly inhibited gastric lesions induced by ethanol and HCl/ethanol and endogenous mucosal sulphydryl groups (SHs) participated efficaciously in BF gastroprotection. BF blocked development of inflammation process and also has antidiarrheal actions. This extract accelerated the healing of the gastric ulcerated mucosa by stimulating proliferative factors and by increasing production of gastric mucus with no toxic action. The substances responsible for the protective action are concentrated in the ethyl acetate fraction that demonstrated no mutagenic action in vitro. Byrsonima fagifolia presents gastroprotective, healing and antidiarrheal activities supporting previous claims that its traditional use by Brazilians can treat these gastrointestinal ailments.