Antiulcerogenic activity of the essential oil of Baccharis dracunculifolia on different experimental models in rats

Abstract

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae), a native plant from Brazil, commonly known as 'Alecrimdo-campo' is widely used in folk medicine to treat inflammation, hepatic disorders and stomach ulcers, and it is the most important botanical source of Southeastern Brazilian propolis, known as green propolis. Its essential oil is composed of non-oxygenated and oxygenated terpenes. In this work, the effects of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of B. dracunculifolia on gastric ulcers were evaluated. The antiulcer assays were undertaken using the following protocols in rats: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced ulcer, ethanol-induced ulcer, stress-induced ulcer, and determination of gastric secretion using ligated pylorus. The treatment in the doses of 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg of B. dracunculifolia essential oil significantly diminished the lesion index, the total lesion area and the percentage of lesions in comparison with both positive and negative control groups. With regard to the model of gastric secretion a reduction of gastric juice volume and total acidity was observed, as well as an increase in the gastric pH. No sign of toxicity was observed in the acute toxicity study. Considering the results, it is suggested that the essential oil of B. dracunculifolia could probably be a good therapeutic agent for the development of new phytotherapeutic medicine for the treatment of gastric ulcer.

Lack of clastogenic/genotoxic effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia extract on Swiss mouse peripheral blood cells

“…Its leaf extracts have been used as an antipyretic, a stomachic, and a health tonic in Brazil (Menezes, 2005). Potent cytotoxic activity against leukemia cells and antiulcer activity have also been reported (Fukuda et al, 2006;Lemos et al, 2007;Massignani et al, 2008). It has been reported that this plant is a source of resin for Brazilian propolis (green propolis), because of the similarity of their chemical constituents (Park et al, 2004).…”

Evaluation of a poly-herbal preparation for the treatment of peptic ulcer

“…Since ulcerene (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.001) reverted the damage to gastric layer, proposes its ulcer curative property that can be possibly mediated through cytoprotective action on gastric mucosa, as shown by sucralfate (100 mg/kg). Ethanol also contributes to gastric mucosal injury through enhanced intracellular accumulation of calcium that promotes the death of gastric epithelium cells (Massignani et al, 2009). Relaxation of high K + induced pre-contracted isolated rabbit jejunum by a crude extract of ulcerene, suggests the presence of calcium channel blocking activity, strengthen the effectiveness of ulcerene in ethanol induced ulcers.…”

Anti-Ulcerogenic Efficacy and Mechanisms of Edible and Natural Ingredients in Nsaid-Induced Animal Models

“…For instance, 1 hour prior to induction of ulcer by indomethacin orally given essential oil from Baccharis dracunculifolia at a single dose of 50 mg/kg body weight induced an 80 inhibition of ulcer index while oral cimetidine at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight only caused 42% inhibition of ulcer index (Massignani et al, 2009). Evening primrose oil, another edible oil, can also dose-dependently prevent the development of gastric ulcer induced by either aspirin or indomethacin (al-Shabanah., 1997).…”