Pharmaceuticals (Jan 2018)

Gastroprotective Effects of Sulphated Polysaccharides from the Alga Caulerpa mexicana Reducing Ethanol-Induced Gastric Damage

  • José Gerardo Carneiro,
  • Ticiana de Brito Lima Holanda,
  • Ana Luíza Gomes Quinderé,
  • Annyta Fernandes Frota,
  • Vitória Virgínia Magalhães Soares,
  • Rayane Siqueira de Sousa,
  • Manuela Araújo Carneiro,
  • Dainesy Santos Martins,
  • Antoniella Souza Gomes Duarte,
  • Norma Maria Barros Benevides

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph11010006
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
p. 6

Abstract

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The development of the gastric lesion is complex and the result of the imbalance between aggressive and protective factors, involving the generation of free radicals and disturbance in nitric oxide (NO) production. Sulphated polysaccharides (SP), from marine algae, are widely used in biotechnological and pharmaceutical areas. In this study, we evaluated the effects of SP from the green marine alga Caulerpa mexicana (Cm-SP) in ethanol-induced gastric damage models in mice. Cm-SP (2, 20, or 200 mg/kg), administered p.o., significantly reduced gastric damage, and these effects were inhibited through pretreatment with indomethacin. Cm-SP (200 mg/kg) prevented the ethanol-induced decline in glutathione and restored its normal level. Moreover, it was able to normalize the elevated thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels. However, Cm-SP did not show any significant effects on NO2/NO3 level, when compared to the ethanol group. The pretreatment with L- NAME induced gastric mucosal damage and did not inhibit the gastroprotective effect of Cm-SP (200 mg/kg). In conclusion, the gastroprotective effects of Cm-SP in mice involve prostaglandins and reduction in the oxidative stress and are independent of NO.

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