Antiulcer action of the hydroalcoholic extract and fractions of Davilla rugosa Poiret in the rat

Davilla rugosa Poiret ("Cipo- Caboclo") is commonly used in Brazilian folk medicine. The hydroalcoholic extract of the stems (ME) was fractionated with chloroform (CF), chloroform/ethyl acetate (CAF), ethyl acetate (AF), ethyl acetate/ethanol (AEF), ethanol (EF), and ethanol/water (EWF). The hydroalcoholic extract (HE) and fractions of the stems of D. rugosa Poiret were investigated for possible anti gastric ulcer properties. These extracts were shown to protect rats from developing gastric ulcers induced by two acute models: HCl/ethanol (400 mg/kg i.p.) and immersion-restraint stress (15 and 30 mg/kg of the HE and 15 mg/kg either of the ethanol or the ethanol/water fractions, p.o.). The daily oral dose of 800 mg/kg of HE for 30 consecutive days was tested for possible toxic effects. There were no modifications in body weight, water or food intake or in the external aspect of kidneys, spleen, lungs and liver. The only difference observed was a decrease of liver weight. These results suggest that the D. rugosa Poiret PIE has an antiulcer activity in rats and the active components are in the two more polar fractions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.