This study was designed to determine the effect of Mangifera indica flowers decoction, on the acute and subacute models of induced
ulcer in mice and rats. A single
oral administration of the aqueous decoction (AD) from M. indica up to a dose of 5 g/kg, p.o. did not produce any signs or symptom of toxicity in the treated animals. The oral pre-treatment with AD (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) in rats with gastric lesions induced by
ethanol, decreased the gastric lesions from 89.0+/-6.71 (control group) to 9.25+/-2.75, 4.50+/-3.30 and 0, respectively. Pretreatment with AD (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) to mice with HCl/
ethanol- or stress-induced gastric lesions resulted in a dose-dependent significant decrease of lesion index. In the
piroxicam-induced gastric lesions, the gastroprotective effect of AD was reducing with the increase of the AD dose. In the pylorus-
ligature, AD (p.o.) significantly decreased the
acid output indicating the antisecretory property involved in the gastroprotective effect of M. indica. Treatment with AD during 14 consecutive days significantly accelerated the healing process in subacute
gastric ulcer induced by
acetic acid in rats. Pretreatment with N-nitro-
l-arginine methyl ester (
l-NAME), an inhibitor of
NO-synthase, did not abolish the gastroprotective effects (99% with saline versus 80% with
l-NAME) of AD against
ethanol-induced gastric lesions. Pretreatment with
N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a blocker of endogenous sulphydryl group, significantly abolished the protective effects of AD against
ethanol-induced
gastric ulcers (95% with saline versus 47% with NEM).
Phytochemical screening showed the presence of
steroids,
triterpenes, phenolic compounds and
flavonoids. Estimation of the global
polyphenol content in the AD was performed by
Folin-Ciocalteu method and showed approximately 53% of total phenolic on this extract. These findings indicate the potential gastroprotective and
ulcer-healing properties of aqueous decoction of M. indica flowers and further support its popular use in
gastrointestinal disorders in Caribbean.