Gastroprotective Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of the Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart. in Mice: Mechanism Actions Assay

Introduction: Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart. is a native specie of the “Cerrado” area of Northeast Brazil and is used in traditional communities for the treatment of inflammation, infection, gastritis and other diseases. Objective: We evaluated the gastroprotective effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart. (HESR) in animal models of classic gastric lesions, the mechanism of action and its effect on intestinal motility. Methods: Phytochemical prospecting is a procedure by qualitative and HPLC-DAD method. The in vivo assay was evaluated by classical methods of gastric lesion and intestinal motility. Results: HESR showed a significant gastroprotective effect without altering the intestinal motility of mice. Furthermore, the effect of HESR was significantly reduced in mice pretreated with L-NAME and endogenous prostaglandins, the respective inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and prostaglandin activation. Conclusion: The data provides evidence to show that HESR provides gastroprotection against gastric damage induced by ethanol, acidified ethanol and indomethacin. The mechanism away showed involvement of endogenous prostaglandins, nitric oxide release, the activation of TRPV1 receptor and ATP-sensitive K+ channels and significant action in the reduction of intestinal motility. This result represents a promising source of natural pharmacological therapies or treatments of gastric diseases.