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2832045 
Journal Article 
Possible mechanisms of action of Caesalpinia pyramidalis against ethanol-induced gastric damage 
Diniz, PB; Ribeiro, AR; Estevam, CS; Bani, CC; Thomazzi, SM 
2015 
Yes 
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
ISSN: 0378-8741 
168 
79-86 
English 
25843020 
WOS:000356555800010 
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul. (Fabaceae), known as "catingueira", is an endemic tree of the Northeast region of Brazil. This plant, mainly inner bark and flowers, has been used in traditional medicine to treat gastritis, heartburn, indigestion, stomachache, dysenteries, and diarrheas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanol extract of C. pyramidalis inner bark was used in rats via oral route, at the doses of 30, 100, and 300mg/kg, in the ethanol-induced ulcer model and some of the mechanisms underlying to the gastroprotective effect of this plant investigated.

RESULTS: The ethanol extract of C. pyramidalis inner bark (100mg/kg) produced reduction (P<0.001) on the total lesion area in the ethanol-induced gastric damage. The gastroprotective response caused by the ethanol extract (100mg/kg) was significantly attenuated (P<0.05) by intraperitoneal treatment of rats with DL-Propargylglycine (PAG, a cystathionine-γ-lyase inhibitor; 25mg/kg), but not by Nw-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase; 70mg/kg), and confirmed by microscopic evidence. The ethanol extract significantly decreased the number of mucosal mast cells compared to vehicle-treated group. The inflammatory cells of the ethanol extract (100mg/kg)-treated ulcerated rats exhibited an upregulation of interleukin (IL)-4 protein expression and downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, observed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometer.

CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that the ethanol extract of C. pyramidalis produced dose-related gastroprotective response on ethanol-induce ulcer in rats through mechanisms that involved an interaction with endogenous hydrogen sulfide and reduction of inflammatory process with imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators, supporting the popular usage of this plant. 
Caesalpinia pyramidalis; Ethanol-induced ulcer; Fabaceae; Gastroprotective; Hydrogen sulfide; Inflammation