Oleanolic acid promotes healing of acetic acid-induced chronic gastric lesions in rats.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Previous work demonstrates that oleanolic acid (OA), a triterpene widely distributed in plants, shows gastroprotective effect in the ethanol, aspirin and pilorous ligature-induced gastric ulcer in rats as well as in the ethanol/hydrochloric acid-induced ulcer in mice. The aim of this work was to assess the healing effect of OA in the acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcer model in rats.

METHODS:

Chronic gastric lesions were induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats with acetic acid. OA was administered orally during 14 days at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg per day. Ranitidine (50 mg/kg) and the vehicle were used as controls. The ulcer area (mm2) and the curative ratio (%) were determined. Histological preparations were carried out for comparative purposes.

RESULTS:

The effect of OA was significantly different as compared to the control reducing the lesion area (in mm2) from 39+/-7 in controls to 17.8+/-1.9 and 9.4+/-1.1 at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The curative ratio was 54.5 and 76% for the compound at 50 and 100 mg/kg, while ranitidine at 50 mg/kg reduced the lesion area to 6.9+/-0.8 with a curative ratio of 84%. Mucosal thickness increased from 342 microm in controls to 540 microm in oleanolic acid- (100 mg/kg) and 945 microm in ranitidine-treated animals. Histological examination of the stomach showed regeneration of the lesions.

CONCLUSIONS:

OA improves healing of chronic gastric lesions in rats. The low toxicity and widespread occurrence of OA in plants suggest a potential for the development of the triterpene or their derivatives as a new antiulcer drug.

• Authors: Jaime A Rodríguez, Luis Astudillo, Guillermo Schmeda-Hirschmann
• Journal: Pharmacological research (Pharmacol Res) Vol. 48 Issue 3 Pg. 291-4 (Sep 2003) ISSN: 1043-6618 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12860449 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Histamine H2 Antagonists
• Plant Extracts
• Oleanolic Acid
• Ranitidine
• Acetic Acid

Topics

• Acetic Acid
• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Gastric Mucosa (physiopathology)
• Histamine H2 Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Oleanolic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (therapeutic use)
• Ranitidine (therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Solanaceae
• Stomach Ulcer (chemically induced, drug therapy)