Gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract from barks of Persea major Kopp (Lauraceae) in rats

ABSTRACT

Persea major Kopp (Lauraceae) is used in folk medicine to treat skin wounds and gastric disorders. This study evaluates the potential of crude hydroalcoholic extract (EHA) as gastroprotective and its acute toxicity. Swiss mice were treated with EHA by oral (p.o.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes with doses of 0.125 to 10 g/kg and were observed until 14 days after the administration of the extract. The calculated LD50 of EHA after i.p. administration was 480 mg/kg in mice and the LD50 values of EHA by the oral route were calculated to be up to 10 g/kg in mice. Wistar rats were orally pretreated with EHA (30, 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg) before induction of gastric lesions by 70 percent ethanol (0.5 mL/animal, p.o.), indomethacin (20 mg/kg, s.c.) and hypothermic restraint stress (during 3 h at 4 ºC). The EHA protected the gastric mucosa against lesions induced by ethanol, but did not reduce the stress- and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions. When the EHA was injected into the duodenal lumen (i.d.), the volume, pH and total acidity of the gastric secretion of rats with pylorus ligature was not altered with different doses of the extract. Results therefore suggest that the cytoprotective effect of this extract against the direct necrosing action of ethanol and its effect were not related with reduction of gastric acid secretion.

RESUMO

Persea major Kopp (Lauraceae) é utilizada na medicina tradicional para o tratamento de lesões cutâneas e distúrbios gástricos. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o potencial gastroprotetor e a toxicidade aguda do extrato bruto hidroalcóolico da Persea major Kopp (EHA). Camundongos Swiss foram tratados com EHA pelas vias oral (v.o.) e intraperitoneal (i.p.) com as doses de 0,125 a 10 g/kg e foram observados por 14 dias. A DL50 calculada após administração i.p. de EHA foi de 480 mg/kg e superior a 10 g/kg pela via oral, em camundongos. Ratos Wistar foram pré-tratados oralmente com EHA (30, 100,300 e 1000 mg/kg) antes da indução de lesões gástricas por etanol 70 por cento (0,5 mL/animal, v.o.), indometacina (20 mg/kg, s.c.) e estresse por contenção e hipotermia (durante 3 h a 4 ºC). O EHA protegeu a mucosa gástrica contra lesões induzidas por etanol, porém não protegeu contra as lesões induzidas por indometacina e estresse. Quando o EHA foi administrado pela via intraduodenal (i.d.), o volume, o pH e a acidez total da secreção gástrica de ratos com ligadura de piloro não foram alterados com diferentes doses do extrato. Os resultados obtidos sugerem um efeito citoprotetor contra ação necrosante direta do etanol pelo extrato bruto hidroalcoólico da Persea major e este efeito não está relacionado com a redução da secreção ácida gástrica.