Studies on the effects ofPluchea indica less root extract on gastroduodenal ulcer models in rats and guineapigs

Potential Antiulcer Agents From Plants: A Comprehensive Review

Background:

Peptic ulcer is a deep gastrointestinal erosion disorder that involves the entire mucosal thickness and can even penetrate the muscular mucosa. Nowadays, several plants and compounds derived from it have been screened for their antiulcer activity. In the last few years, there has been an exponential growth in the field of herbal medicine. This field has gained popularity in both developing and developed countries because of their natural origin and less side effects.

Objective:

This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of currently available knowledge of medicinal plants and phytoconstituents reported for their anti-ulcer properties.

Methods:

The worldwide accepted database like SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, NISCAIR, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Web of Science, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar were used to retrieve available published literature.

Results:

A comprehensive review of the present paper is an attempt to list the plants with antiulcer activity. The review narrates the dire need to explore potential chemical moieties that exert an antiulcer effect, from unexploited traditional plants. Furthermore, the present study reveals the intense requirement to exploit the exact mechanism through which either the plant extracts or their active constituents exhibit their antiulcer properties.

Conclusion:

This article is the compilation of the plants and its constituents reported for the treatment of peptic ulcers. The Comprehensive data will surely attract the number of investigators to initiate further research that might lead to the drugs for the treatment of ulcers. As sufficient scientific data is not available on plants, most of the herbals cannot be recommended for the treatment of diseases. This can be achieved by research on pure chemical structures derived from plants or to prepare new lead compounds with proven beneficial preclinical in vitro and in vivo effects. However, a lot remains to be done in further investigations for the better status of medicinal plants.

Quinic acid esters fromPluchea indica with collagenase, MMP-2 and MMP-9 inhibitory activities

Investigation of collagenase inhibitory natural components afforded two quinic acid esters (1 and 2) and quercetin (3) from the leaves of Pluchea indica (Compositae). Of these, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited collagenase inhibitory activity (IC(50)) at a concentration of less than 10 microm, and 1 showed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 inhibitory activity (IC(50)) at 2.5 and 6.4 microm, respectively.

Antioxidant activity of the methanol fraction of Pluchea indica root extract

Studies were carried out to evaluate the influence of the methanol fraction of Pluchea indica Less root extract (PIRE), the dual inhibitors (BW 755C and phenidone) and vitamin on both in vivo and in vitro free radical-scavenging activities, CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation and the metabolism of arachidonic acid by lipoxygenase. PIRE produced significant antiinflammatory activity against glucose oxidase-induced paw oedema (in vivo), inhibited hydroxyl radical and superoxide generation, lysis of erythrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide, CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation and also dioxygenase activity of lipoxygenase (both in the presence and absence of hydrogen peroxide). Significantly higher free radical-scavenging activity was observed with BW 755C and phenidone compared with PIRE. However, both BW 755C and phenidone stimulated hydroxyl radical generation compared with the observed inhibitory effects of PIRE and vitamin E.

Studies on the mechanism of anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activity of Pluchea indica--probable involvement of 5-lipooxygenase pathway

The effect of the methanolic fraction of Pluchea indica Less. root extract was evaluated on various models of inflammation and ulcer in vivo to assess the role of P. indica on the 5-lipoxygenase pathway of prostaglandin synthesis. Studies presented here reveal significant antiinflammatory activity of the fraction on Arachidonic acid, Platelet activation factor and Compound 48/80-induced paw oedema. There was significant inhibition of spontaneous as well as compound 48/80-induced histamine release from mast cells. Ulcer studies revealed significant protective action of the fraction on indomethacin, alcohol and indomethacin-alcohol induced ulceration. There was significant decrease of gastric volume and acidity in pylorus ligated rats. Studies also showed, significant protective action of the same on gastric mucosa.