Gastric H+, K+-ATPase inhibitory effects of the active constituent isolated from Potentilla fulgens roots: An in vivo and in silico molecular docking studies

Background and objective: Potentilla fulgens (Rosaceae) is an edible medicinal herb which is widely used in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine for treating gastric ulcer, diabetes, cancer and diarrhea. Literature reveals that the crude ethanolic extract (EPF) of the plant possessed promising gastroprotective effects in rodents. However, the actual chemical marker with a probable mechanism of action responsible for its anti-secretory efficacy is still left unexplored. Hence, the present investigation was aimed to examine the phytoconstituents responsible for gastric anti-secretory effect incorporating in vivo study supported by in silico molecular docking techniques. Methods: Experimentally, four EPF bioactive fractions were tested viz. chloroform (PFCH), ethylacetate (PFEA), n-butanol (PFBu) and aqueous (PFAq). As per the bioactivity guided assay, the most bioactive fraction (PFEA) was subjected to column chromatography and the isolated component (-) epicatechin (EC) was screened for its effects on gastric ulceration induced by pyloric ligation (PL) and absolute ethanol. Various gastric secretion parameters such as gastric juice volume, pH, H+, K+-ATPase activity and histamine levels were determined. In silico molecular docking study was performed to predict the binding efficacy of EC responsible for the inhibition of H+, K+-ATPase enzyme. Results: Results from the PL model indicate that PFEA, PFBu and EC showed significant gastroprotective effect (p