The hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of red mombin (Spondias purpurea L.) is more effective in accelerating ulcer healing than preventing them in rodents.

Abstract

This study evaluated the anti-ulcer effects of the hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of Spondias purpurea L. (SPHE). The gastroprotection was assessed using acidified ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice given orally with the vehicle, carbenoxolone (200 mg/kg), or SPHE (10-1.000 mg/kg). The extract's healing activity was evaluated using acetic acid-induced ulcers in rats treated with vehicle, omeprazole (20 mg/kg), or SPHE (3-300 mg/kg). Histological and biochemical analyses were done in ulcerated tissue from both models. SPHE antisecretory action was tested in pylorus-ligated rats. The in vitro antioxidant potential was assessed using the DPPH test; its cytotoxicity and proliferative effects were measured in L929 cells. Mass spectrometry analysis was used to determine the extract's chemical profile and the quantification of phenolic compounds in the extract was performed in LCMS. SPHE induced gastroprotection at a dose of 1.000 mg/kg, and this effect was lost in mice treated with NEM, indomethacin, or yohimbine but not L-NAME. SPHE improves the healing of acetic acid-induced ulcers by 69.5% and 83.7% at 10 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. The microscopic examination confirms the healing effect of SPHE. SPHE enhanced PAS-stained mucins, SOD, and GST activities while decreasing MPO activity, and MDA levels in ulcerated mucosa, and scavenged DPPH radicals but did not change the gastric acid secretion. SPHE showed no cytotoxicity and favored fibroblast proliferation. The presence of hibiscus acid, hydroxy citric acid, hibiscus acid glycoside, ellagic acid, and the flavonoids quercetin and rutin were confirmed and quercetin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, and epigallocatechin were quantified. Therefore, SPHE accumulated chemicals with higher gastric healing potential mediated by gastric protective features, specifically antioxidant resources, mucus barrier, and cell proliferation.