ABSTRACT
Cenostigma macrophyllum Tul. var. acuminata Teles Freire (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for treatment of gastric ulcer. This study evaluated the ulcer-healing activity of the hydroalcoholic fraction of C. macrophyllum Tul. var. acuminata Teles Freire leaves (Cm-FHA) and the tea of the leaves of C. macrophyllum (Cm-tea), as well as the possible action of Cm-FHA, through in vitro models. Leaves of C. macrophyllum were dried and powdered to obtain the Cm-FHA. Subsequently, the Cm-FHA was characterized phytochemically and biologically. Besides, Cm-tea was prepared. The gastric healing effects of Cm-tea and Cm-FHA were analyzed using the model of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in rats. The human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line was employed as an in vitro model. Cm-tea promoted a protective effect against gastric ulcers induced by absolute ethanol. Cm-FHA or Cm-tea (100 mg/kg/7 days) exhibited a significant healing effect on ulcers induced by acetic acid. In the histological analysis, gastric mucosa treated with Cm-FHA or Cm-tea advanced restoration of the mucosal epithelium. In vitro, lower concentrations of Cm-FHA stimulated cell proliferation in the BrdU assay and cell migration. Cm-tea and Cm-FHA present a significant gastric healing effect in in vivo and in vitro models.