Background: The use of plants of the family Euphorbiaceae, particularly Euphorbia
tirucalli (avelós) has been popularly widespread for treating a
variety of diseases of infectious, tumoral, and inflammatory.
Aim: To demonstrated antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of these extracts,
evaluating the effect of a topical treatment with an aqueous solution of avelós
latex on the survival and on intestinal adhesions in rats with experimental
peritonitis.
Methods: Peritonitis was induced in 24 Wistar rats, that were randomized into four groups
of six as follows: (1) Control group (n=6), no treatment; (2) Antibiotic group
(n=6), treatment with a single intramuscular dose of antibiotic Unasyn; (3) Saline
group (n=6), the abdominal cavity was washed with 0.9% saline; and (4)
E.tirucalli group (n=6), the abdominal cavity was washed with
E. tirucalli at a concentration of 12 mg/ml. The animals that
died were necropsied, and the time of death was recorded. The survivors were
killed on postoperative day 11, and necropsy was subsequently performed for
evaluation of the intestinal adhesions.
Results: Significant differences were observed in the control and antibiotic groups
(p<0.01) with respect to the survival hours when compared with the saline and
E. tirucalli groups. There was no significant difference
(p>0.05) in the survival of animals in the saline andE.
tirucalli groups; however, one animal died in the saline group.
Necropsy of the animals in the saline and E. tirucalligroups
showed strong adhesions resistant to manipulation, between the intestinal loops
and abdominal wall. The remaining groups did not show any adhesions.
Conclusions: Topical treatment with E. tirucalli latex stimulated an increased
formation of intestinal adhesions and prevented the death of all animals with
peritonitis.