CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Acacia aroma 􀀩ill ex Hoo􀁍􀀈Arn., Tusca, is an autochthonousherb of 􀀰orth􀁙est Argentina. The peptic ulcer is a pathology resultingof the imbalance bet􀁙een offensive and defensive factors in gastricmucosa and the search for ne􀁙 treatments is a current challenge.The aim of the present study 􀁙as to evaluate the potential gast roprotectiveand antisecretory effects of 􀀗􀀇 infusion of Tusca leaves.This extract 􀁙as lyophilized and subjected to a phytochemicalscreening, and its antioxidant activity 􀁙as determined. In vivo studies􀁙ere developed in t􀁙o models of induced gastric ulcers in male􀀹istar rats 􀀊ethanol and pylorus ligation􀀋. The experimental groups􀀊n􀀟􀀘 animals/group􀀋 􀁙ere􀀜 􀀓􀀏Control group􀀝 􀀔􀀏􀀲ositive controlgroup treated 􀁙ith Sucralfate 􀀊􀀓􀀒􀀒mg/􀀭g􀀋 or 􀀱meprazole 􀀊􀀖􀀒mg/􀀭g􀀋 orally􀀝 􀀕􀀏Aqueous extract treated group received orally 􀀓􀀗􀀒mg dry extract /􀁍g. 􀀯ucus content 􀁙as evaluated by Alcian 􀀤luemethod and ulceration parameters 􀀊number of ulcers, severityand ulcerated area percentage􀀋 􀁙ere determined. Chemical, microscopicstudies of gastric content and a histological evaluation􀁙ere performed. Also, a gastric emptying assay 􀁙as carried out.Tusca extract sho􀁙ed a significant free radical scavenging effect,compared 􀁙ith the controls quercetin and 􀀤HT. The extract causeda significant 􀀊p 􀀞 􀀒.􀀒􀀗􀀋 decrease of the ulcerated area, being theseverity and number of ulcers lo􀁙er, compared 􀁙ith untreatedcontrol group, the mucus content 􀁙as significantly higher thancontrol group. The rats treated 􀁙ith the extract sho􀁙ed a decreasein the gastric juice volume and free acidity compared 􀁙ith controlgroup. The gastric emptying 􀁙as no modified 􀁙ith the treatment. 􀀫nconclusion, Tusca extract has a significant gastroprotective effectli􀁍ely related to free radical scavenging activity and through thestrengthening of the mucus layer. Additional studies are neededto determine the active compounds and specific mechanismsinvolved.