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Objective: To investigate the effects of Araucaria sp. brown propolis (ABP) against trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. Methods: Animals received vehicle (1% DMSO, 1 ml/kg) or hydroalcoholic extract of ABP (hydroalcoholic extract of Araucaria sp. brown propolis (HEABP), 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) orally, or dexamethasone (25 mg/kg, s.c.) for 5 days. On day 4, the animals received intracolonic TNBS (150 mg/kg), on day 6 they were euthanized. The weight of the animals, the macroscopic and microscopic colonic damage, reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured in colon homogenate. The action of HEABP and two isolated compounds in neutrophil migration was recorded. Key findings: HEABP (100 and 300 mg/kg), but not dexamethasone, decreased colonic lesion, and increased colonic mucin staining. In parallel, HEABP decreased MDA and restored GSH levels and the activity of SOD, CAT, and GST in the colon. A dose-dependent inhibition of MPO activity was observed (LogIC50 = 1.9). Moreover, HEBPA and the junicedric and abietic acids inhibited the neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro and HEBPA reduced neutrophil migration in vivo. Conclusion: HEABP may be promising in the therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases, reducing oxidative and inflammatory damage, especially mediated by neutrophils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) is widely consumed in Brazil and known for its numerous health-beneficial properties. This study investigated the gastroprotective potential of the dried açaí berries extract (DAE). Methods Dried açaí berries extract effect was evaluated against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Its ability to regulate antioxidant defenses and reduce inflammatory parameters was evaluated in the ulcerated tissues. The scavenger capability of DAE was assessed by DPPH assay, and phytochemical composition was accessed by UHPLC. Key findings The extract showed radical scavenger activity in vitro (IC50 = 210 µg/ml) and gastroprotective effect in vivo, reducing the ulcerated area by 83%, 67% and 48% at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg (p.o) and 3 mg/kg (i.p), respectively, compared with vehicle group. Besides, DAE (100 mg/kg, p.o) increased the GSH content and GST activity in ulcerated mucosa. Animals treated with DAE showed normalized levels of SOD activity, elevated CAT activity and decreased MPO activity, as well as reduced TNF-α levels, compared with vehicle group. Peonidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-rutinoside, cyanidin-3,5-hexoside-pentoside, cyaniding-3-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-rutinoside were identified in DAE. Conclusions Our findings suggest that DAE reduces the inflammation and maintains the oxidative balance of gastric mucosa, therefore being a promising natural resource or useful nutraceutical to protect gastric mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bauhinia genus is known as “Pata-de-Vaca” and a wide variety of these species are used in Brazilian folk medicine due to their gastroprotective properties. This study aimed to investigate the antiulcer efficacy of the hydroalcoholic extract from B. curvula (HEBC) leaves, as well as its semi-purified fraction (SPFr) and the contribution of their phytochemicals constituents for this effect. For that, ethanol 60%/HCl 0.3 M- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer were performed in rodents. Gastric ulcerated tissues were processed for histological, histochemical and biochemical analysis. The oral treatment with HEBC and SPFr decreased the gastric ulcer induced by ethanol/HCl in mice and by indomethacin (only HEBC) in rats. The gastroprotective effect of HEBC was abolished in mice pretreated with Nω-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, N-Ethylmaleimide, glibenclamide or indomethacin. Both HEBC and SPFr reduced myeloperoxidase activity in parallel with a decrease of lipoperoxides content at the site of the lesion. On the other hand, HEBC did not alter volume, pH, total acidity or pepsin activity of acid gastric secretion in rats, and neither inhibited the in vitro H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. Additionally, the compounds identified and isolated from the SPFr, the flavonoids quercitrin (65%) and kaempferol (35%), were able to diminish the extent of ulcerated area induced by both ethanol/HCl and indomethacin. Taking together, these findings show that B. curvula extracts present gastroprotective effect, mainly explained by the presence of flavonoids quercitrin and kaempferol, which may possibly improve the defensive factors of gastric mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Maytenus robusta Reissek (Celastraceae) is traditionally used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat gastric ulcer, as a substitute for M. ilicifolia, which is almost extinct. The gastroprotective properties of M. robusta were demonstrated previously using only preventive approaches, such as acute gastric ulcer models. However, the healing effect of M. robusta in gastric ulcers remains unclear., Aim of the Study: The current study was carried out to investigate the healing effectiveness of M. robusta hydroalcoholic extract (HEMR) from aerial parts in the acetic acid-induced chronic ulcer model and to determine its effect on cell proliferation, scavenging free radicals, and inflammatory and oxidative damage., Material and Methods: To evaluate the healing properties of HEMR in vivo, chronic gastric ulcer was induced in rats by 80% acid acetic. Next, different groups of animals (n=6) were treated orally with vehicle (water plus 1% tween, 1 ml/kg), omeprazole (20mg/kg), or HEMR (1-10mg/kg), twice daily for 7 days. At the end of the treatment, the total ulcer area (mm(2)) was measured and a sample of gastric tissue was taken for histological and histochemical analysis. Evaluation of GSH and LOOH levels, GST, SOD, CAT and MPO activity was also performed at the site of the lesion. In parallel, radical scavenging activity, cytoprotective effect, and cell proliferation activity in fibroblasts (L929 cells) were determined by in vitro trials. The antisecretory properties were evaluated using the pylorus ligature model in rats, and the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity was determined in vitro. Acute toxicity was evaluated by relative organ weight and biochemical parameters in serum. The prokinetic properties were also evaluated in mice., Results: Oral administration of HEMR (10mg/kg) reduced the gastric ulcer area by 53%, compared to the vehicle group (120.0 ± 8.3mm(2)), the regeneration of gastric mucosa was evidenced in histological analysis. Moreover, HEMR treatment increased gastric mucin content and reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters at the site of the ulcer. In vitro, HEMR (1-1000 µg/ml) was able to scavenge free radical DPPH and promote cytoprotection against H2O2 in fibroblasts at 0.1-100 µg/ml. Moreover, HEMR healing properties also were confirmed by enhancement of proliferation and coverage of scratched wounds in fibroblast monolayer. However, HEMR (10mg/kg) by the intraduodenal route did not promote changes in volume, pH, total acidity or pepsin activity in the pylorus ligature model, and HEMR up to 2000 µg/ml also did not present considerable activity against H. pylori. In relation to gastrointestinal motility, HEMR (10mg/kg, p.o) did not provoke alterations. It is also important to mention that oral administration of HEMR did not produce any sign of acute toxicity in animals., Conclusions: The data here obtained show that M. robusta has evident ulcer healing potential, mainly through the strengthening of protective factors of gastric mucosa, such as mucus layer, antioxidant defenses and cell proliferation. Taking into account the advantages of cultivation and harvesting of M. robusta compared to M. ilicifolia, and the evidence presented here, it is plausible to conclude that hydroalcoholic extract obtained from aerial parts of M. robusta is an interesting source for the development of a phytotherapeutic formulation to treat gastric ulcer., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)