Gastroprotective effects of latex from Himatanthus drasticus in models of acute gastric lesion

• Published in: The FASEB journal Vol. 27; no. S1
• Main Authors: Pinheiro, Rachel Sindeaux Paiva, Marques, Larisse Mota, Freitas, Lyara Barbosa Nogueira, Luz, Patrícia Bastos, de Figueiredo, Ingrid Samantha Tavares, Matos, Mayara, Souza, Tamires, Rangel, Gisele, Ramos, Márcio Viana, de Alencar Alencar, Nylane Maria Nunes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-04-2013
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1168.6

Abstract only
Himatanthus drasticus (Apocynaceae), a laticifer plant, is popularly known as janaguba. This latex has been widely used in traditional folk medicine to treat diseases such cancer and ulcer. This study was performed to investigate the gastroprotective activity of proteins isolated from latex Himatanthus drasticus (HdPL) in gastric ulcer model. Experimental protocols were registered on the Institutional Ethics Committee under number 43/2011. Swiss male mice were treated with PrLP at doses 0.5; 5 and 50 mg/kg (i.v.; n=8). After 30 min they received 0.2 ml of absolute ethanol per oral, after 60 min, the animals were sacrificed, stomachs removed and analyzed the lesion index and dosage of GSH (reduced glutathione) and nitrite. To study the gastroprotective mechanism, its relations to capsaicin‐sensitive fibers, endogenous prostaglandins, nitric oxide, ATP‐sensitive potassium channels and cGMP were analyzed. HdPL gastroprotective effect was observed only at dose of 5mg/kg. HdPL also restored the GSH levels and nitrite in mucosa and only L‐NAME, Glibenclamide and ODQ were able to reverse the protective effect of PrLP. We can conclude that the HdLP has pharmacological activity with gastroprotetor effect in the gastric mucosa. This protection appears to be mediated in part by modulation of NO/cGMP/KATP pathway, which has been related to mucosal defense and maintenance of stomach's blood flow. Support: CNPQ ans CAPES.