Chrysophyllum cainito (apple-star): a fruit with gastroprotective activity in experimental ulcer models

Abstract

The gastroprotective potential of the methanolic extracts from peels (MEPe), seeds (MESe) and pulp (MEPu) of Chrysophyllum cainito L. (Sapotaceae) fruits was evaluated in mice using ethanol/HCl- and indomethacin-induced ulcer, as well as the antiulcer effect of the juice and flour from this fruit. The lowest oral gastroprotective dose of MEPe, MESe and MEPu against ethanol/HCl was 3, 3 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, all extracts increased mucin secretion at 176, 198 and 193%. Intraperitoneal administration of MEPe (0.3 mg/kg), MESe (0.3 mg/kg) and MEPu (1 mg/kg) also promoted gastroprotection against ethanol/HCl. In addition, MEPe (3 mg/kg, p.o), MESe (3 mg/kg, p.o) and MEPu (10 mg/kg, p.o) reduced indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice by 78, 70 and 50%, respectively. Regarding the mode of action, the gastroprotective effect of MEPe was decreased by the pre-administration of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM, a sulfhydryl group chelator, 10 mg/kg, i.p), glibenclamide (a potassium channel blocker, 10 mg/kg, i.p), yohimbine (10 mg/kg, i.p, an alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist, 10 mg/kg, i.p) and indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, 10 mg/kg, i.p). The gastroprotective effect of MESe was reduced by the pre-administration of NEM, glibenclamide, N-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 70 mg/kg, i.p) and yohimbine, while MEPu had the gastroprotective effect decreased in animals pretreated with NEM and L-NAME. However, the extracts did not reduce gastric acid secretion. The supplementation with the flour from C. cainito fruit at 10% by 7 days, but not the juice intake, displayed gastroprotective potential, evidencing the fruit as a promising functional food. Together, the antiulcer effect of extracts of the C. cainito fruit in different experimental models was confirmed by the favoring of mucosal protective mechanisms among different, but complementary, modes of action. In parallel, the gastroprotective effects of the flour from C. cainito fruit were also described.

Contribution of Secondary Metabolites to the Gastroprotective Effect of Aqueous Extract of Ximenia americana L. (Olacaceae) Stem Bark in Rats

“…In our experiment, the blockade on NOS by L-NAME promoted a significant increase in gastric lesions and also reversed the gastroprotective action of X. americana aqueous extract, also indicating a possible contribution of this mediator. It should be noted that although the 70 mg/kg dose of L-NAME with a focus on gastroprotection mechanisms involving the role of nitric oxide as a mediator of gastroprotection has been obtained from studies in the literature [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ], this same dose is also capable of increasing the blood pressure of rats [ 55 ].…”

Gastroprotective and antioxidant effects of fluvoxamine on stress-induced peptic ulcer in rats

“…Being a serious gastrointestinal disorder, PUD demands a well-targeted therapeutic approach 12 . Numerous drugs are available for the treatment of PUD, involving anti-acids, H 2 receptor antagonists, and proton pump inhibitors 13 ; however, clinical evaluation has revealed major side effects, drug interactions, and incidences of relapse from these drugs 14 …”

Allantoin improves histopathological evaluations in a rat model of gastritis

“…Allantoin is one of the principal compounds in many plants, such as yam, Nelumbo nucifera rhizome, sugar beet, and leguminous and is a natural, safe, and non-toxic compound (4,6). The wound healing and tissue regeneration effects of allantoin have already been well known (3,14).…”