Antiulcerogenic activity of extract, fractions, and some compounds obtained from Polygala cyparissias St. Hillaire & Moquin (Polygalaceae)

TLDR: The results showed that at a dose of 50 mg/kg, these compounds reduced the percentage of ulcer by around 71.26 ± 9.26%, which may be attributed, at least in part, to the antiulcerogenic activity of P. cyparissias.

Abstract: The present study evaluates the gastroprotective properties of acetone extract, chloroform, and methanol fractions, α-spinasterol (1); 1,3-dihydroxy-7-methoxyxan- thone (2); and 1,7-dihydroxy-2,3-methylenedioxyxanthone (3) obtained from Polygala cyparissias (Polygalaceae). Gastroprotective assays were performed in mice using ethanol/HCl and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)/bethanechol-induced ulcer models. Chloroformic fraction showed no interesting results. On the other hand, in the ethanol/HCl-induced ulcer model, the treatment using doses of 50, 125, and 250 mg/kg promoted ulcer inhibition of 45.19±12.93%, 62.99±3.49%, and 67.40±4.75% for acetone extract and 43.70±5.12%, 64.56±5.64%, and 74.49±6.13% for methanol fraction. In the model of NSAID/bethanechol-induced ulcer, the ulcer inhibitions in the same doses were 28.12±12.45%, 60.16±6.58%, and 77.86±7.18% for the acetone extract and 46.09±6.92%, 67.45±4.36%, and 75.00±2.92% for the methanol fraction. In view of the antiulcer potential of the acetone extract and its high yield and xanthone content, it was submitted to chromatographic procedures, giving compounds 1-3, which were also evaluated in the ethanol-induced ulcer model. The results showed that at a dose of 50 mg/kg, these compounds reduced the percentage of ulcer by around 71.26±9.40%, 81.10±5.75%, and 86.22±3.42%, for compounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The antiulcerogenic activity of P. cyparissias may be attributed, at least in part, to these compounds.