Pharmacological studies of Panacis Japonici Rhizoma. I

Herbal Remedy: An Alternate Therapy of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Induced Gastric Ulcer Healing

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most commonly used therapeutic drug groups used worldwide for curing an array of health problems like pain, inflammation, cardiovascular complications, and many other diseases, but they may cause different side effects including gastroduodenal disorders. So, there is a growing interest and need to search for nontoxic, antiulcer formulations from medicinal plants to treat NSAIDs induced gastric ulcer. Extensive research has reported on many natural plants like Camellia sinensis, Phyllanthus emblica, Myristica malabarica, Piper betle, Picrorhiza kurroa, and so forth, and their active constituents reduced NSAIDs induced gastric ulcer via their antioxidative as well as immunomodulatory activity. Therefore, use of herbal formulations in daily life may prevent NSAIDs induced gastric ulceration and other side effects.

Chemical structures of water-soluble polysaccharides from Rhizoma Panacis Japonici

Five polysaccharide samples, coded as RPS1, RPS2, RPS3, RPS4, and RPS5, were isolated stepwise from Rhizoma Panacis Japonici (RPJ) by using 0.15M NaCl aqueous solution at 25 degrees C, boiling water at 120 degrees C, 0.5M NaOH/0.01M NaBH(4) at 10 degrees C, 1.0M NaOH/0.02M NaBH(4) at 10 degrees C, and 19M HCOOH at 4 degrees C, respectively. The yields were 0.39%, 1.08%, 2.41%, 0.32%, and 0.04% for RPS1 to RPS5, respectively. The chemical structures of the polysaccharides were highly branched alpha-(1-->4)-D-glucan heteropolysaccharides and the values of degree of branch (DB) were in the range of 35-45% for RPS1 to RPS5. All of the polysaccharides were water soluble, and their solubility decreased from RPS1 to RPS5. The weight average molecular mass were 3.5 x 10(4), 1.47 x 10(5), 1.24 x 10(6), 9.26 x 10(5), and 1.36 x 10(6) for RPS1 to RPS5, respectively.

Evaluation of the antiulcerogenic and analgesic activities of Cordia verbenacea DC. (Boraginaceae)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cordia verbenacea is a medicinal plant popularly used in Brazil as anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and anti-rheumatic agent without detailed pharmacological and toxicological studies.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study was aimed to investigate the effects of Cordia verbenacea in antiulcer, analgesic and antioxidant assays, as well as to evaluate its toxic effects and phytochemical profile.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Antiulcer activity of plant extract was evaluated using ethanol/HCl, ethanol and piroxican-induced gastric lesions methods. The pH, volume and total acid of gastric juice were determined by pylorus-ligated assay. Analgesic activity was evaluated by writhing, tail-flick and hot-plate tests. Antioxidant activity was determined by in vitro lipoperoxidation assay. Acute toxicity and number of deaths were evaluated by Hippocratic screening.

RESULTS

The ethanol leaf extract shows a potent antiulcer activity in the ethanol/HCl and absolute ethanol-induced gastric lesions. The IC(50) value of plant extract on the lipid peroxidation was 76.11mug/ml. Preliminary phytochemical tests were positive for flavonoids, steroids, saponins, fixed acids, alkaloids and phenols. In the analgesic models the extract did not present any activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Cordial verbenaceae showed a potent antiulcer activity at the dose of 125mg/kg and this effect may be associated with an improvement in stomach antioxidant mechanisms.

The plant kingdom as a source of anti-ulcer remedies

Phytogenic agents have traditionally been used by herbalists and indigenous healers for the prevention and treatment of peptic ulcer. This article reviews the anti-acid/anti-peptic, gastro-protective and/or anti-ulcer properties of the most commonly employed herbal medicines and their identified active constituents. Botanical compounds with anti-ulcer activity include flavonoids (i.e. quercetin, naringin, silymarin, anthocyanosides, sophoradin derivatives) saponins (i.e. from Panax japonicus and Kochia scoparia), tannins (i.e. from Linderae umbellatae), gums and mucilages (i.e. gum guar and myrrh). Among herbal drugs, liquorice, aloe gel and capsicum (chilli) have been used extensively and their clinical efficacy documented. Also, ethnomedical systems employ several plant extracts for the treatment of peptic ulcer. Despite progress in conventional chemistry and pharmacology in producing effective drugs, the plant kingdom might provide a useful source of new anti-ulcer compounds for development as pharmaceutical entities or, alternatively, as simple dietary adjuncts to existing therapies.

Anti-ulcer action of Panax japonicus rhizome

Using HCl/ethanol-induced ulcer in rats as a screening model, an anti-ulcer effect was observed for a methanol extract of Panax japonicus rhizome, saponin fractions and chikusetsusaponin III. Results suggest that the gastric mucous membrane-protective effect of the methanol extract is likely to be due to the crude saponin fraction and chikusetsusaponin III.