J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Jan 15;159:285-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.11.025. Epub 2014 Nov 24.

Terminalia catappa L.: a medicinal plant from the Caribbean pharmacopeia with anti-Helicobacter pylori and antiulcer action in experimental rodent models.

Pinheiro Silva L1, Damacena de Angelis C1, Bonamin F1, Kushima H1, José Mininel F2, Campaner Dos Santos L2, Karina Delella F3, Luis Felisbino S3, Vilegas W4, Regina Machado da Rocha L1, Aparecido Dos Santos Ramos M5, Maria Bauab T5, Toma W6, Akiko Hiruma-Lima C7.

• 1Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP - Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, CEP 18618-970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
• 2Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP - Departamento de Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, CEP 14800-900, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
• 3Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP - Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Biociências, CEP 18618-970, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
• 4Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP - Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista, CEP 11330-900 São Vicente, SP, Brazil.
• 5Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP - Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, CEP 14801-902, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
• 6Universidade Santa Cecília - Pós-Graduação em Sustentabilidade de Ecossistemas Costeiros e Marinhos, Rua Oswaldo Cruz, 266, Boqueirão, CEP 11045907 Santos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: walbertoma@gmail.com.
• 7Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP - Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, CEP 18618-970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: hiruma@ibb.unesp.br.

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae) is a medicinal plant listed as a pharmacopeia vegetable from Caribbean to treat gastritis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the gastroprotective and healing effect of the aqueous fraction (FrAq) obtained from the leaves of Terminalia catappa and to determine the antiulcer mechanism of action in experimental rodent models and its activity to Helicobacter pylori.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

In rodents, the FrAq was challenged by different necrotizing agents, such as absolute ethanol and ischemia-reperfusion injury. The antiulcer mechanism of action of FrAq was assessed and the healing effects of the fraction after seven and 14 days of treatment was evaluated by matrix metalloproteinase activity (MMP-2 and MMP-9). The toxicological effect of subacute treatment with FrAq during 14 days of treatment was also analyzed. The anti-Helicobacter pylori activity was determined by microdilution. The phytochemical study of the fraction was analyzed by experiments with FIA-ESI-IT-MS(n) (Direct Flow Analysis-ionization Electrospray Ion Trap Tandem Mass Spectrometry) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a photodiode array (PDA).

RESULTS:

Oral treatment with FrAq (25mg/kg) significantly decreased the number of ulcerative lesions induced by ethanol and ischemia/reperfusion injury. The action of FrAq was mediated by the activation of defensive mucosa-protective factors, such as increases in mucus production, the nitric oxide (NO) pathway and endogenous prostaglandins. Oral treatment with FrAq for seven and 14 days significantly reduced the lesion area (80% and 37%, respectively) compared to the negative control group. Analyses of MMP-9 and MMP-2 activity from gastric mucosa confirmed the accelerated gastric healing effect of FrAq. This extract also presented considerable activity against Helicobacter pylori. The mass spectrum and MS/MS of the aqueous fraction indicates the existence of many different phenolic compounds, including punicalagin, punicalin, and gallagic acid, among others.

CONCLUSIONS:

We concluded that FrAq from Terminalia catappa leaves has excellent preventive and curative effects on acute and chronic induced gastric ulcers and showed an important profile against Helicobacter pylori.

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Combretaceae; Gastric healing action; Helicobacter pylori; MMP-2; MMP-9; Terminalia catappa L.

PMID:

25460589