Gastric and Duodenal Antiulcer Activity of Alkaloids: A Review

Abstract

Peptic ulcer disease is a deep gastrointestinal erosion disorder that involves the entire mucosal thickness and can even penetrate the muscular mucosa. Numerous natural products have been evaluated as therapeutics for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including this one. These products usually derive from plant and animal sources that contain active constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins and others. The alkaloids are natural nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites mostly derived from amino acids and found in about 20% of plants. There has been considerable pharmacological research into the antiulcer activity of these compounds. In this work we review the literature on alkaloids with antiulcer activity, which covers about sixty-one alkaloids, fifty-five of which have activity against this disease when induced in animals.

Preliminary phytochemical and antibacterial screening of Sesuvium portulacastrum in the United Arab Emirates

“…They are known for their antimalarial, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antiulcer properties. [25] Cytotoxic compounds are potentially interesting on their own or as lead compounds for the development of new anti-cancer drugs as well as drugs against parasites and viral infections. Through the use of GCMS, the S. portulacastrum containing these compounds may serve as a potential source of bioactive compounds in the prevention or cure of microbial and other disorders.…”

Indigofera suffruticosa Mill as new source of healing agent: Involvement of prostaglandin and mucus and heat shock proteins

“…Flavonoids and alkaloids protect the gastric mucosa against a variety of ulcerogenic agents in different mammalian species (de Sousa Falcão et al, 2008;Mota et al, 2009). Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the gastroprotective effect of flavonoids; these include anti-secretory, cytoprotective and antioxidant activity (Mota et al, 2009).…”

Antiulcerogenic activity of species Annona coriacea Mart. and Spiranthera odoratissima A. St. Hil

“…It is important to mention that several alkaloids present anti-ulcer activity [21]. Toma et al [22], showed that the alkaloids present in Senecio brasiliensis are able to increase mucus secretion and prostaglandin production in gastric mucosa.…”