Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menispermaceae), a medicinal plant, presents antimotility and antidiarrheal activity in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Cissampelos sympodialis (Menispermaceae), known as "Milona" has a specific verified medicinal use for the treatment of diarrhea and respiratory tract diseases. This work aims to evaluate the antimotility and antidiarrheal activity of crude ethanolic extract (EtOHE-Cs), and the total alkaloid fraction (TAF-Cs) obtained from aerial parts of C. sympodialis. METHODS: Normal intestinal transit and gastric emptying were used to evaluate antimotility activity. Castor oil-induced diarrhea and castor oil-induced enteropooling were used to evaluate antidiarrheal activity. RESULTS: The results indicated that EtOHE-Cs has no antimotility activity, but did demonstrate antidiarrheal activity (at 500 mg/kg), and this activity is related to reduction of intestinal fluid accumulation. The TAF-Cs (at 250 and 500 mg/kg) showed antidiarrheal activity by reducing gastrointestinal motility (gastric emptying and normal intestinal transit). CONCLUSIONS: The antidiarrheal activity of C. sympodialis can be attributed to the chemical compounds already isolated and quantified in this species, mainly alkaloids.

Gastroprotective Activity of Neoglaziovia variegata (Arruda) Mez. (Bromeliaceae) in Rats and Mice.

Neoglaziovia variegata (Arruda) Mez (Bromeliaceae) is a medicinal plant popularly known as "caroá." The leaves are made up of highly resistant fibers, which is of great commercial value to the handicraft and textile industry. Some studies have demonstrated that ethanolic extract of N. variegata have gastroprotective properties. This study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective activity and cytoprotective mechanisms of ethyl acetate (Nv-AcOEt), hexane (Nv-Hex), and chloroform (Nv-CHCl3) fractions of N. variegata leaves. The gastroprotective activity of Nv-AcOEt, Nv-Hex, and Nv-CHCl3 was evaluated using the ethanol and ethanol/HCl-induced gastric injury model. To elucidate the gastroprotective mechanisms, the functions of prostaglandins (PGs), nitric oxide (NO), and KATP channels were evaluated. In addition, the nonprotein sulfhydryl groups and the mucus content in the gastric tissues were analyzed. All fractions of N. variegata leaves at oral doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg significantly decreased ethanol and ethanol/HCl-induced gastric lesions, leading to gastroprotection, accompanied by an increase in reduced glutathione (GSH) and gastric mucus. Gastroprotective activity of Nv-AcOEt was inhibited after pretreatment with ibuprofen and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG). Gastroprotective effect of Nv-Hex and Nv-CHCl3 was also inhibited after pretreatment with L-NOARG and with glibenclamide. The results indicate that N. variegata (Arruda) Mez exhibits promising gastroprotective activity with the possible participation of NO, PGs, mucus, sulfhydryl groups, and KATP.

Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit protects colon from TNBS-induced inflammation via immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anti-proliferative mechanisms.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In folk medicine Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae) has been reported to relieve respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, indigestion, cold, pain, fever, cramps, skin diseases, gastric ulcer and inflammatory disorders. This study investigated the effects and the mechanisms of action of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit (Lamiaceae) ethanol extract (Hs-EtOH) and hexane phase (Hs-HexF) against intestinal inflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Acute and relapse TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis protocols were used to evaluate intestinal anti-inflammatory activity. Damage evaluations, biochemical, histological and immunostaining parameters were determined. RESULTS: Both extracts decreased macroscopic colonic inflammation and the area of lesion induced by TNBS. Nevertheless, only Hs-HexF was able to reduce colonic wall thickness, edema and diffuse inflammatory cell infiltration and to prevent GSH depletion in the acute model of ulcerative colitis. In the chronic phase with relapse of colonic ulceration, yet again only Hs-HexF significantly attenuated inflammatory parameters and presented a decrease in nitrite/nitrate, MDA, MPO, IL-1-ß and TNF-α and increased levels of SOD, CAT, GSH and IL-10. Hs-HexF also significantly reduced positive cells immunostained for PCNA. CONCLUSION: The data indicate intestinal anti-inflammatory activity for H. suaveolens, due to the participation of the antioxidant system, decreased neutrophil infiltration and cytokine modulation, as well as, owing to regulation of cell proliferation.

Cytoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanism related to antiulcer activity of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. in animal models.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The leaves and roots of Cissampelos sympodialis (Menispermaceae) are used by indian tribes and in folk medicine to treat genitourinary infections, inflammation, asthma and gastrointestinal disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The standardized ethanolic extract (Cs-EtOHE) and alkaloids total fraction (Cs-TAF) obtained from aerial parts of C. sympodialis were evaluated in several models of acute gastric ulcers. The antisecretory and/or neutralizing mechanisms of the gastric acid secretion, cytoprotective, antioxidant and immunoregulatory mechanisms were also evaluated. RESULTS: Cs-EtOHE and Cs-TAF presented a reduction in gastric mucosa lesions against ethanol, NSAIDs, hypothermic restraint-stress and gastric juice containment induced ulcer models. This activity is related to alkaloids present in the extract, and involves the participation of sulfhydryl compounds, nitric oxide, KATP channels, prostaglandins, decreased levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α and increased levels of GSH and IL-10. CONCLUSION: The data indicate gastroprotective activity, due to the participation of the cytoprotective, antioxidant and immunoregulatory mechanisms.

Anti-inflammatory intestinal activity of Combretum duarteanum Cambess. in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid colitis model.

AIM: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory intestinal effect of the ethanolic extract (EtOHE) and hexane phase (HexP) obtained from the leaves of Combretum duarteanum (Cd). METHODS: Inflammatory bowel disease was induced using trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid in acute and relapsed ulcerative colitis in rat models. Damage scores, and biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: Both Cd-EtOHE and Cd-HexP caused significant reductions in macroscopic lesion scores and ulcerative lesion areas. The vegetable samples inhibited myeloperoxidase increase, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß. Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 also increased in animals treated with the tested plant samples. The anti-inflammatory intestinal effect is related to decreased expression of cyclooxygenase-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and an increase in superoxide dismutase. CONCLUSION: The data indicate anti-inflammatory intestinal activity. The effects may also involve participation of the antioxidant system and principal cytokines relating to inflammatory bowel disease.