Determination of the antiulcerogenic activity of Crotalaria pallida Aiden (FABACEAE)

• Grant number: 12/05305-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Ethnopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Alba Regina Monteiro Souza Brito
• Grantee: Bruna Tiemi Kitano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/52237-9 - Standardized herbal medicines for the treatment of chronic diseases, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

Plants have been used in treating various diseases, but often without scientific basis. The project Biota-FAPESP (2009/52237-9) aims to investigate the potential of various plant species in the treatment of different chronic diseases. A peptic ulcer affects about 10% of world population and does not have an treatment effective, safe and able to prevent relapses. Currently, the search for new drugs for the treatment of gastric ulcer has increased the focus toward to medicinal plants, in order to find drugs that can prevent recurrence of the ulcer and at the same time, make the drug more accessible economically. The plant analyzed in this project is Crotalaria pallida which has many substances with potential anti-ulcer action. Studies have shown the presence of antioxidant compounds in this plant, as flavonoids, isoflavones and phenolic acids derivates, which are important players in defense against reactive oxygen species produced during ulcer genesis. Furthermore, some authors have found the existence of crotafurans E, A and B which have anti-inflammatory activity in vitro on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and interferon-³, and acts on the nuclear transcription factor-kB (NF-kB). To evaluate the antiulcerogenic activity of C. pallida will be carried out experimental protocols that can mimic some of the major causes of ulcers in humans (alcohol, drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory-NSAID, and accumulation of acid secretion). The extract of C. pallida will be evaluated at various doses initially to be found the best effective dose, starting then to study the mechanisms involved in anti-ulcer activity.(AU)