Exploring therapeutic potential of Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz leaf and bark focusing on antioxidant, antithrombotic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antidiarrheal properties

Background and Aims

The study aimed to evaluate the pharmacological properties of methanolic extracts of leaves and barks of Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz (family: Lythraceae) focusing on antioxidant, thrombolytic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, and antidiarrheal effects.

Methods

1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, clot lysis, disc diffusion, and membrane stabilizing methods were employed to assess in vitro antioxidant, thrombolytic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties of the leaf and bark methanolic extracts (ME) of W. fruticosa and different organic solvents, that is, petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), chloroform (CL), and aqueous (AQ) fractions. In addition, in vivo central and peripheral analgesic and antidiarrheal activities of both crude extracts were evaluated at two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight [bw]).

Results

All the extracts and fractions showed promising antioxidant properties by scavenging DDPH free radicals with IC50 of 6.11-20.79 μg/mL. AQ fraction (41.24%) of leaves and ME (44.90%) of bark exerted notable in vitro thrombolytic activity. The CL fraction of leaves and AQ fraction of the bark showed 43.16% and 45.37% inhibition of RBC hemolysis, respectively, compared to the inhibition of RBC hemolysis by aspirin in a hypotonic-induced membrane stabilizing assay. Besides, both extracts were observed to provide significant (p < 0.001) central and peripheral analgesic responses at both doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg bw. Furthermore, both doses of bark extract (p < 0.001) and the 400 mg/kg bw of leaf extract (p < 0.05) were observed to possess statistically significant antidiarrheal activity. Additionally, in an in vivo acute toxicity investigation, both extracts had a median lethal dose (LD50) greater than 5000 mg/kg bw, indicating their safety level.

Conclusion

The current study proves the ethnomedicinal uses of W. fruticosa; however, further studies are required for phytochemical screening to isolate the responsible bioactive compounds and discover the lead molecules from the plant species.

Emerging Trends and their Impacts on Peptic Ulcer Diseases: Treatments and Techniques

Background:

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is prevalent in almost all parts of the world. PUD complications are creating a major source of preventable health care expenses. The major factors responsible for the incidence of PUD and its complication have changed over the past few decades after the identification of non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection along with a marked increase in the use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) as drug therapy. The management of PUD has become more complex and challenging due to antimicrobial resistance.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to highlight current therapy and novel techniques used in the treatment of peptic ulcer diseases.

Methods:

An exhaustive literature search has been conducted across PubMed, Google, Scopus and Web of Science as an electronic database to add the crucial information from the relevant literature.

Results:

In the present review, we have discussed PUD and its pathophysiology. The recent trends in PUD and possible treatments with novel techniques have also been discussed. The type and presence of ulcers cannot be predicted accurately based on symptoms. The available treatment approaches for peptic ulcers based on their clinical presentation and etiology are anti-secretary therapy, endoscopy to reveal ulcers followed by drug therapy, and triple therapy for H pylori infection.

Conclusion:

Thus, the popular and effective methods are very beneficial in controlling PUD. The treatment based on diagnosis is the foremost requirement for ameliorating any disorder. In this article, the emerging techniques and development in the treatment and diagnosis of PUD have been reviewed.

Protective effects of Dialium guineense pulp on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury in albino rats

The numerous challenges and detrimental effects connected with the treatment of peptic ulcers in the world today calls for alternative attention. Ethnomedicinally, Dialium guineense pulp (DAGP) has numerous pharmacological activities. This study investigated the anti-ulcer activities of Dialium guineense pulp on gastric mucosa injury induced with aspirin in albino Wistar rats. DAGP extract was orally administered at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw (mg per kg of the body weight) per day for 3 or 7 days followed by 400 mg/kg bw oral aspirin administration. Ulcer indices were determined, followed by a biochemical estimation of antioxidant enzymes using gastric mucosal tissue from the stomach. Student's t-test was used to compare significant differences among groups of animals at P ≤ 0.05. The results showed that Dialium guineense pulp caused a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the ulcer index in aspirin induced rats. This decrease in ulcer index is dose dependent and 1000 mg/kg bw per day caused the highest decrease in 7 days. The results showed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in lipid peroxidation and a decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in antioxidant enzymes activities in the aspirin-induced ulcerated rats. Oral administration of DAGP increased antioxidant enzymes activities and decreased injury in the gastric mucosa in ulcer induced rats. Therefore, this study showed that DAGP exhibited anti-ulcer potential and that the gastrointestinal protection may be through the scavenging action of free radicals by its constituent antioxidants. Thus, Dialium guineense pulp has ameliorative medicinal potential for the curing of gastric disorders.

Protective effect of standardised fruit extract of Garcinia cowa Roxb. ex Choisy against ethanol induced gastric mucosal lesions in Wistar rats

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The fruit of Garcinia is a rich and valuable source of bioactive compounds and is traditionally used for treating wounds and ulcers. The present study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of chromatographically standardized fruit extract of Garcinia cowa (GCE) on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats and its possible mechanisms.

METHODS

The effect of GCE (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) was evaluated by determining various gastric ulcer parameters like gastric wall mucus, non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) content, microvascular permeability, endogenous antioxidant enzyme, and gastric histopathological study.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Oral administration of GCE at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg exhibited significant (p < .01) dose-dependent inhibition of ulcer index by 18.94-44.02%, respectively. Pre-treatment of rats with GCE (400 mg/kg) significantly restored the depleted gastric wall mucus level by 34.09% and NP-SH content by 33.35% induced by ethanol administration. In addition, GCE (400 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in microvascular permeability of Evans Blue by 47.43%, rationalizing its protective effect. Furthermore, a significant increase in oxidative enzyme levels with reduction in malondialdehyde level and elevation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was observed in the GCE treated group as compared to the ulcer control group. The histopathological assessment also confirmed the protective nature of GCE. HPTLC analysis showed the presence of 0.27%, 0.11% w/w gallic acid, and amentoflavone, respectively in GCE. The content of α-mangostin and xanthochymol in the G. cowa extract sample quantified by HPLC-PDA method was 0.72 and 8.46%, respectively. The results obtained indicate that the protective effect of GCE against gastric ulcers in rats through multiple actions confirmed by the reduction of oxidative stress and restoration of adhered gastric mucus, NP-SH content, and histological architecture.KEY MESSAGESEthanol is the most typical ulcerogenic agent and has been shown to extend the risk of ulcer in humans.Natural products are promising alternative medication for the development of new drugs to regulate gastrointestinal diseases.Garcinia cowa protects the gastric mucosa through multiple actions that include restoration of adhered gastric mucus and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Therapeutic Promises of Medicinal Plants in Bangladesh and Their Bioactive Compounds against Ulcers and Inflammatory Diseases

When functioning properly, the stomach is the center of both physical and mental satisfaction. Gastrointestinal disorders, or malfunctioning of the stomach, due to infections caused by various biological entities and physiochemical abnormalities, are now widespread, with most of the diseases being inflammatory, which, depending on the position and degree of inflammation, have different names such as peptic or gastric ulcers, irritable bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis, and so on. While many synthetic drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are now extensively used to treat these diseases, their harmful and long-term side effects cannot be ignored. To treat these diseases safely and successfully, different potent medicinal plants and their active components are considered game-changers. In consideration of this, the present review aimed to reveal a general and comprehensive updated overview of the anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal plants. To emphasize the efficacy of the medicinal plants, various bioactive compounds from the plant extract, their experimental animal models, and clinical trials are depicted.

Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Peptic Ulcer Disease: A Review

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) is the most common disorder of the stomach and duodenum, which is associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. PUD occurs due to an imbalance between offensive and defensive factors and Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI), Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics are frequently used for the treatment. Recently, medicinal plants have emerged as efficacious, safe and widely available alternative therapies for PUD. The aim of this review was to study the medicinal plants and phytochemicals, which have been used for PUD treatment to evaluate the potential role of natural compounds to develop herbal remedies for PUD. Information was obtained using a literature search of electronic databases, such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Sci Finder, Reaxys and Cochrane. Common and scientific names of the plants and keywords such as 'peptic ulcer', 'gastric ulcer', 'stomach ulcer' and 'duodenal ulcer' were used for search. Eventually, 279 plants from 89 families were identified and information on the plant families, part of the plant used, chemical constituents, extracts, ulcer model used and dosage were abstracted. The results indicated that most of the anti-PUD plants were from Asteraceae (7.1%) and Fabaceae (6.8%) families while flavonoids (49%), tannins (13%), saponins (10%) and alkaloids (9%) were the most common natural compounds in plants with anti-PUD activity.

Exacerbation of diclofenac-induced gastroenterohepatic damage by concomitant exposure to sodium fluoride in rats: protective role of luteolin

NSAID-induced gastrointestinal toxicity is associated with non-selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-mediated synthesis of prostaglandins. Fluoride salts, known to stimulate COX-2 synthesis, have also been associated with gastrointestinal damage. The effects of fluoride treatment on NSAID toxicity are, however, yet to be clarified. This study examined the effect of sodium fluoride (NaF) on diclofenac (DIC)-induced gastroduodenal and hepatic toxicity in rats. In addition, the potential protective role of Luteolin (Lut), an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoid, in co-exposure to NaF and DIC was also investigated. Five groups of rats were treated thus: Group A (control): distilled water vehicle for 8 days; Group B: DIC (9 mg/kg) orally, twice daily from days 6 to 8; Group C: NaF (300 ppm) plus DIC for the final 3 days; Groups D and E: Luteolin at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively, with concurrent NaF and DIC exposures. Rats co-treated with DIC and NaF exhibited the highest severity of dark watery diarrhea and gastroduodenal hemorrhages. NaF aggravated the DIC-induced increases in malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), protein carbonyls (PC), H₂O₂, and nitric oxide, while inhibiting glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in all the tissues. In contrast, Luteolin treatment significantly attenuated the gastroduodenal and hepatic damage caused by NaF and DIC co-administration by suppressing oxidative damage and lesions in the tissues. These results show, for the first time, that NaF may enhance diclofenac-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and also suggest that Luteolin may be a promising lead for the treatment of drug-induced gastroenteropathy.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities contribute to the prophylactic effect of semi-purified fractions obtained from the crude methanol extract of Muntingia calabura leaves against gastric ulceration in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In traditional medicine, the leaves, flowers, barks and roots of Muntingia calabura L. (Muntingiaceae) have been employed as a treatment for various ailments including dyspepsia and to relieve pain caused by gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. The methanolic extract of Muntingia calabura leaves (MEMC) has been proven in the previous study to possess significant antiulcer activity. In this study, we attempted to determine the prophylactic effect of the fractions obtained from MEMC against ethanol-induced gastric lesion in rats and the involvement of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory mediators.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The MEMC was fractionated with petroleum ether (PEF), ethyl acetate (EAF) and distilled water (AQF). These fractions were investigated for possible antiulcer property using ethanol-induced gastric ulcer rat model. The rats were administered orally once daily with 8% Tween 80 (control), 100mg/kg ranitidine, or the fractions, in the doses of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg, for 7 days, followed by ulcer induction using absolute ethanol. The rats were euthanized; macroscopic and histological observations of the stomach were done. The ulcer area (UA) was determined and the percentage protection afforded by the fractions was calculated. The fractions were subjected to antioxidant studies including the superoxide and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and total phenolic content (TPC) assay. Involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory mediators such as lipoxygenase (LOX) and xanthine oxidase (XO) were evaluated. Phytochemical screening and HPLC analysis of the fractions were also conducted.

RESULTS

Pre-treatment of PEF and EAF significantly (p<0.001) attenuated the gastric lesions as compared to the control group in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, 100 and 250 mg/kg of AQF significantly (p<0.001) prevented the ulcer formation but at the highest dose (500 mg/kg), AQF failed to significantly reduce the ulcer formation, showing a dose-independent antiulcerative effect of AQF. The histological evaluation supported the observed gastroprotective activity of PEF, EAF and AQF. All the fractions showed high superoxide and DPPH scavenging activity, meanwhile the EAF showed highest TPC followed by PEF and AQF. These fractions also significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the NO while maintaining the viability of the cells. EAF exhibited high inhibition towards both the LOX and XO enzymes, meanwhile PEF and AQF exerted high LOX inhibition but low XO inhibition. Phytochemical screening and HPLC profiling suggested the presence of flavonoid- and tannin based compounds in PEF and EAF.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that the prophylactic effect of the fractions on gastric ulceration in rats is associated with its high antioxidant activity and its ability to effectively inhibit the inflammation mediators. Presence of several flavonoids and gallic acid explains the effectiveness of the fractions in affording protection against gastric damages.