Actions of crude hydroalcoholic extract of Pfaffia sp on gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

The plants that compound the Pfaffia genus are used in folk medicine to treat gastric disturbances. This study examined the effects of a crude hydroalcoholic extract of Pfaffia sp on the gastrointestinal tract. Female Wistar rats were pretreated orally (p.o.) with the hydroalcoholic extract of Pfaffia (0.5, 1 and 2 g.kg-1) before the induction of ulcer with hypothermic restraint stress (HRS), ethanol (ET) or indomethacin (IND). Control animals received water (C) or ranitidine (60mg/kg) p.o. The hydroalcoholic extract of Pfaffia (0.5, 1 and 2 mg.kg-1) protected rats against HRS and ET - induced ulcers, but was not able to protect the gastric mucosa against IND - induced ulcers. When injected into the duodenal lumen, the hydroalcoholic extract of Pfaffia inhibited basal and stimulated acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. These results indicate that this plant has a protective action against gastric lesions of the mucosa involving the reduction of gastric acid secretion.<br>As plantas que compõem o gênero Pfaffia são utilizadas na medicina popular para tratar distúrbios gástricos. O presente estudo verificou os efeitos de um extrato bruto hidroalcoólico de Pfaffia sp sobre o trato gastrointestinal. Ratos Wistar fêmeas, foram pré-tratados por via oral (p.o.) com o extrato hidroalcoólico de Pfaffia sp (0,5; 1,0 e 2,0 g/kg) 1 hora antes da indução de úlceras com estresse por imobilização e frio, com etanol 70% ou indometacina. Animais controle receberam água (C) ou ranitidina (R: 60mg/kg) - p.o. O tratamento com o extrato protegeu a mucosa gástrica contra o aparecimento de úlceras induzidas por estresse e etanol, mas não foi capaz de proteger a mucosa contra úlceras induzidas por indometacina. Quando injetado pela via intraduodenal (na luz do duodeno - i.d.), o extrato hidroalcoólico de Pfaffia sp inibiu tanto a secreção ácida gástrica basal quanto a estimulada com histamina e betanecol (drogas agonistas), em ratas com ligadura de piloro. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho indicam que esta planta apresenta ação protetora da mucosa gástrica, envolvendo a redução da secreção gástrica

Isolation and prebiotic activity of inulin-type fructan extracted from Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng) Pedersen roots

“…In Brazil, it mainly occurs in the states of São Paulo, Paraná, Mato Grosso, and Goiás [1,2]. This plant is popularly known as "Brazilian ginseng," and it is used commercially as a substitute for Asian ginseng, Panax ginseng.…”

“…This plant is popularly known as "Brazilian ginseng," and it is used commercially as a substitute for Asian ginseng, Panax ginseng. P. glomerata roots are used in folk medicine as a tonic, aphrodisiac, anti-diabetic, and antiulcer gastric, with a number of studies demonstrating its effectiveness [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

Involvement of glutamate and cytokine pathways on antinociceptive effect of Pfaffia glomerata in mice

“…The presence of other substances in Pfaffia glomerata has also been shown: a triterpenoid (glomeric acid), nortriterpenoid (pfameric acid), ecdysterone, rubrosterone, oleanolic acid and ␤-glucopyranosil oleanolate (Shiobara et al, 1993). The antitumoral activity of pfaffic acid from roots of Pfaffia paniculata has also been reported (Takemoto, 1983), by intraperitoneal route the alcoholic extract of Pfaffia glomerata roots has a depressant effect on central nervous system whereas it is without effect when given orally (de-Paris et al, 2000); the gastroprotective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from a mixture of roots of distinct species of Pfaffia (Freitas et al, 2003) and aqueous extract from roots of Pfaffia glomerata (Freitas et al, 2004). In addition, preliminary studies conducted by Neto et al (2005) have demonstrated that the hydroalcoholic extract of roots from Pfaffia glomerata exhibits antiinflammatory effect against carrageenan-induced paw oedema and formation of granulomatous tissue, as well as antinociceptive action against acetic acid-induced visceral nociception.…”

Hypnotic effect of ecdysterone isolated from Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen

“…Pharmacological studies with P. glomerata roots evidenced a gastroprotective effect probably mediated by histaminergic pathway and an enhanced production of nitric oxide in the stomach (Freitas et al, 2003(Freitas et al, , 2004). An ethanol extract of this species did not show antiviral, antiproliferative, antifungal or MAO inhibitory activities in vitro (Gosmann et al, 2003).…”