Preclinical gastroprotective activity of an Eugenia brasiliensis Lam. (Myrtaceae) extract

Gastric ulcers are lesions of the mucous coating membrane of the stomach characterized by burning and epigastric pain as symptoms, which are empirically relieved by Eugenia brasiliensis Lam. (Myrtaceae) extracts. However, there are no studies which evaluated sistematically its gastroprotector potential. Thus, this study aimed to assess the gastroprotector effectiveness of an acetonic extract obtained from leaves of Eugenia brasiliensis in reducing gastric ulcers in rats. Animals were divided in groups and submitted to alcohol and indomethacin models of gastric lesion after previous treatment with the extract and to acetic acid-induced ulcer followed by six days exposure to the extract. Ethanol-induced gastric lesion was reduced by 30 and 100 mg/Kg of the extract in 36% and 68%, respectively. Indomethacin-induced gastric lesion area was reduced by 30, 100 and 300 mg/Kg of the extract in 66%, 88% and 73%, respectively. Acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer was reduced in 72% by 100 mg/Kg extract. Data indicate that Eugenia brasiliensis acetonic extract was effective in reducing gastric lesion in all models tested, which can be attributed to modulation of the inflammatory response and antioxidant activity enhancement by polyphenols, resulting in direct contribution to decrease cell damage which brings consequent gastric ulcer reduction.