gamma-linolenic-acid and Stomach-Ulcer

Haplophyllum tuberculatum is used in traditional medicine to treat many disorders including inflammation and pain. The aim of this study is to investigate the organic extracts from H. tuberculatum leaves against inflammation, gastric ulcer and pain.. Acute toxicity was studied in vivo to determine the toxic doses of the organic extracts. Anti-inflammatory activity was also evaluated in vivo using carrageenan-induced paw edema in Wistar rats. Gastroprotective activity was tested using the HCl/ethanol-induced gastric ulcer test in rats. Peripheral and central analgesic activities were assessed using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and the hot-plate method, respectively. The chemical composition of the fatty acids in the petroleum ether (PE) extract was determined with GC-MS.. At 25, 50 and 100mg/kg PE extract was the most active against inflammation. Percentages inhibition 5h after carrageenan-injection were 51.12; 86.71% and 96.92%, respectively. The same extract at 100mg/kg showed good analgesic activities using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and the hot-plate method. The chloroform, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and butanolic (n-BuOH) extracts exhibited strong anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and analgesic activities at 100mg/kg. The GC-FID analysis revealed that the PE extract was rich in γ-linolenic acid (45.50%) followed by palmitic acid (18.48%), linoleic acid (10.73%), erucic acid (4.72), stearic acid (3.96%) and oleic acid (2.57%).. The results of the present study support the traditional use of the leaves of H. tuberculatum and may possibly serve as prospective material for further development of safe new phytochemical anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and/or analgesic agents.

Topics: Acetic Acid; Alkanes; Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Carrageenan; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Edema; Ethanol; Fatty Acids; Female; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hot Temperature; Hydrochloric Acid; Lethal Dose 50; Male; Mice; Pain; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Rats, Wistar; Rutaceae; Solvents; Stomach Ulcer

The evening primrose oil (EPO) commercially known as Callanish evening primrose oil (omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid) is linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)-enriched oil obtained from the seeds of Oenothera biennis L. (Fam. Onagraceae). EPO was investigated for its ability to protect the gastric mucosa against injuries caused by pylorus ligation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; aspirin, indomethacin and phenylbutazone), hypothermic restraint stress and necrotizing agents [0.6 M HCl, 0.2 M NaOH, 25% NaCl or 80% (v/v) aqueous ethanol]. It was administered by gastric intubation at doses of 5 and 10 ml/kg body weight to rats fed standard chow diet. An additional group of animals was given the same amount of corn oil in each experimental model studied. The results showed that EPO at the doses of 5 and 10 ml/kg body weight provided significant protection in various experimental models used. It produced a significant inhibition of gastric mucosal damage induced by pylorus ligation, NSAIDs, or hypothermic restraint ulcers. EPO also had a marked cytoprotective effective effect against all necrotizing agents used in this study. The results suggest that EPO rich in LA and GLA possesses both antisecretory and anti-ulcerogenic effects.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Ethanol; Fatty Acids, Essential; Female; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Gastric Acid; Gastric Mucosa; Hydrochloric Acid; Hypothermia, Induced; Ligation; Linoleic Acids; Male; Oenothera biennis; Plant Oils; Pylorus; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sodium Chloride; Sodium Hydroxide; Stomach Ulcer