Planta Med 1998; 64(2): 126-129
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957388
Papers
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Antiulcerogenic Activity of trans-Dehydrocrotonin from Croton cajucara

A. R. M. Souza Brito1 , J. A. Rodríguez2 , C. A. Hiruma-Lima1 , 3 , M. Haun2 , D. S. Nunes4
  • 1Dep. de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil
  • 2Dep. de Bioquímica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil
  • 3Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Tocantins, Porto Nacional, Brasil
  • 4Dep. de Química, Universidade Federal do Parí Belém, Pará, Brasil
Further Information

Publication History

1997

1997

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

trans-Dehydrocrotonin (DHC), the major diterpene isolated from Croton cajucara Benth, was assayed for antiulcerogenic acitivity in four induced gastric ulcer models in the rat. At an oral dose of 100 mg/kg DHC showed a significant antiulcerogenic effect on ulcers induced by hypothermic restraint stress, ethanol, and pylorus ligature. No significant changes in indomethacin-induced gastric lesions or modifications in gastric parameters such as wall mucus, secretion rate, pH, and total acid content were found after DHC treatment. The acute toxicological effects of DHC were assessed in mice. The LD50 values were 876 mg/kg and 47.2 mg/kg for oral and intraperitoneal administrations, respectively. The cytotoxicity of DHC was also studied. A dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability was observed in V-79 fibroblast cell cultures with an IC50 of 240 µM. The high yields of DHC obtained from dried C cajucara barks as well as its good antiulcerogenic activity and low toxicity support the pharmacological study of this compound as a potential new antiulcerogenic drug.