Planta Med 2013; 79 - PB8
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1351953

Copaifera langsdorffii leaves extract and its isolated compounds display gastric antiulcer activity

M Lemos 1, CS Mizuno 2, JP Sousa 1, DN Nanayakkara 3, SF Andrade 4, JK Bastos 1
  • 1University of São Paulo, School of Pharmacy of Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040 – 903, Brazil
  • 2College of Pharmacy – University of New England, Portland, ME 04103, USA.
  • 3National Center for Natural Products Research, University of Mississippi, MS, USA.
  • 4Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Campus de Videira, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Gastric ulcer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among the digestive tract diseases. Copaifera langsdorffii Desff., popularly known as “copaiba,” is a large tree that grows in Brazil. The trunk oil resin is used in folk medicine for a variety of diseases, including urinary, lung and gastric disorders [1]. The aim of this work was to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of C. langsdorffii leaves using the induced ulcer chronic model by acetic acid [2]. For that, Swiss male mice (n = 6) was operated for exposing the stomach, and 0.02 mL (v/v) of 30% acetic acid solution was injected into the submucosal layer in the junction between the antrum and the fundus. After two days of recovery, animals were orally treated during seven days with 500 mg/kg of C. langsdorffii leaves extract, cimetidine (100 mg/kg) and saline solution. After that, animals were killed and the gastric lesions were analyzed macroscopically using EARP software image-analysis. For evaluating the isolated compounds, the experiment was performed using ethanol/HCl-induced ulcer [3]. Swiss male mice (n = 6) received 30 mg/kg of α-humulene (1), β-caryophyllene (2), caryophyllene oxide (3), kaurenoic acid (4), afzelin (5) and quercitrin (6). Omeprazole (30 mg/kg) and saline solution were used as controls. After one hour of treatment, animals received 0.2 mL of ethanol/HCl solution (60%/0.3 M) to induce lesions, and one hour later they were killed for analyses. In the chronic protocol, leaves extract (500 mg/kg) and cimetidine exhibited gastroprotective activities of 73% and 70%, respectively. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 displayed activities higher than 70% in comparison with omeprazole (78%). The observed gastroprotective activities might be associated, in part, to its antioxidant properties.

References:

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[2] Takagi K, Okabe S, Saziki R. J Pharmacol, 19: 418, 1969.

[3] Mizui T, Doteuchi M. Jpn J Pharmacol, 33:939 – 945, 1983.