<i>Ximenia americana</i> L.: Chemical Characterization and Gastroprotective Effect
Renata Torres Pessoa,
Isabel Sousa Alcântara,
Lucas Yure Santos da Silva,
Roger Henrique Souza da Costa,
Tarcísio Mendes Silva,
Cícera Datiane de Morais Oliveira-Tintino,
Andreza Guedes Barbosa Ramos,
Maria Rayane Correia de Oliveira,
Anita Oliveira Brito Pereira Bezerra Martins,
Bruna Caroline Gonçalves Vasconcelos de Lacerda,
Edlane Martins de Andrade,
Jaime Ribeiro-Filho,
Clara Mariana Gonçalves Lima,
Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho,
Irwin Rose Alencar de Menezes
Affiliations
Renata Torres Pessoa
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Isabel Sousa Alcântara
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Lucas Yure Santos da Silva
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Roger Henrique Souza da Costa
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Tarcísio Mendes Silva
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Cícera Datiane de Morais Oliveira-Tintino
Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Andreza Guedes Barbosa Ramos
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Maria Rayane Correia de Oliveira
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Anita Oliveira Brito Pereira Bezerra Martins
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Bruna Caroline Gonçalves Vasconcelos de Lacerda
CECAPE College, Av. Padre Cícero, 3917, Juazeiro do Norte 63024-015, CE, Brazil
Edlane Martins de Andrade
CECAPE College, Av. Padre Cícero, 3917, Juazeiro do Norte 63024-015, CE, Brazil
Jaime Ribeiro-Filho
Department of Biotechnology, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Fiocruz Ceará, Eusébio, Fortaleza 60180-190, CE, Brazil
Clara Mariana Gonçalves Lima
Department of Food Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37203-202, MG, Brazil
Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho
Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Irwin Rose Alencar de Menezes
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Molecular Chemistry, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, Rua Coronel Antônio Luis 1161, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
Ximenia americana L., popularly known in Brazil as “ameixa do-mato, ameixa-brava, and ameixa-do-sertão,” is widely used in folk medicine to treat several intestinal disorders. The present study assessed the potential mechanisms of action underlying the gastroprotective activity of the hydroethanolic extract of Ximenia americana L. (EHXA) stem bark. The acute toxicity of EHXA was estimated, and later, the gastroprotective effect in mice was assessed through acute models of gastric lesions induced by acidified or absolute ethanol and indomethacin, where the following mechanisms were pharmacologically analyzed: the involvement of prostaglandins (PG), histamine (H2) receptors, ATP-dependent potassium channels, sulfhydryl groups (SH), α2 adrenergic receptors, nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), gastric mucus production, and acetylcholine-mediated intestinal motility. Regarding toxicity, EHXA did not cause deaths or signs of toxicity (LD50 greater than or equal to 2000 mg/kg/p.o.). When the gastroprotective effect was assessed, EHXA (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/p.o.) reduced the rate of lesions induced by acidified ethanol by 65.63; 53.66, and 58.02% in absolute ethanol at 88.91, 78.82, and 74.68%, respectively, when compared to the negative control group. In the indomethacin-induced gastric injury model, the reductions were 84.69, 55.99, 55.99, and 42.50%, respectively. The study revealed that EHXA might stimulate mucus production and reduce intestinal motility through SH groups, NO production, and activation of α2 adrenergic receptors. The results indicated that EHXA had significant gastroprotective activity in the evaluated models. However, further investigation is required to elucidate the cellular and molecular events underlying the action of EHXA components and to correlate them with the modulation of the signaling pathways, as demonstrated by the current pharmacological approach. Therefore, the results demonstrated in the present study, as well as previously reported findings, support the recommendation of using this species in traditional communities in Brazil.
