Gastroprotective Effect of Alkaloids from Cortex Phellodendri on Gastric Ulcers in Rats through Neurohumoral Regulation

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective activity of the total alkaloids from the bark of Phellodendron amurense and identify their possible mechanism. Total alkaloids were obtained through an alcohol extraction method and were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Chronic gastric ulcers were induced by acetic acid (0.14 mol/L) filter paper on the gastric serosa. The antiulcer effect of total alkaloids was evaluated using the ulcer area, the ulcer inhibition ratio, and epidermal growth factor. The gastroprotective mechanism of total alkaloids was revealed using the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline. The results showed that oral administration of total alkaloids (30 mg/kg/day) obviously decreased the ulcer area (7.67 ± 2.06 mm²; p < 0.01) compared with the model group (15.15 ± 2.34 mm²). The ulcer inhibition ratio of the total alkaloids group (50 %) was higher than the omeprazole-treated group (46 %), which showed that the antiulcer effect of the total alkaloids may be superior to omeprazole. Besides, the total alkaloids significantly increased the epidermal growth factor level and accelerated the healing of ulcers. Histological examination of gastric tissues also supported the same conclusion. In addition, the total alkaloids significantly elevated the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline (both p < 0.01 compared to the model group). Our data indicates that total alkaloids of Cortex Phellodendri exerts a beneficial gastroprotective effect and the involved mechanism is likely neurohumoral regulation. Thus, Cortex Phellodendri may develop into a promising clinical medicinal agent for improving the quality of ulcer healing.

Key words

Phellodendron amurense - Rutaceae - alkaloids - acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer - gastroprotection - neurohumoral regulation

^* These two authors contributed equally to this work.

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