Author/Authors :
Cipriani، نويسنده , , Thales R. and Mellinger، نويسنده , , Caroline G. and de Souza، نويسنده , , Lauro M. and Baggio، نويسنده , , Cristiane H. and Freitas، نويسنده , , Cristina S. and Marques، نويسنده , , Maria Consuelo A. and Gorin، نويسنده , , Philip A.J. and Sassaki، نويسنده , , Guilherme L. and Iacomini، نويسنده , , Marcello، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
Maytenus ilicifolia is one of frequently used medicinal plants in Brazil. Its leaves are used in homemade and industrial medicines for effective treatment of stomach ulcers. A polygalacturonic acid (PGA) was obtained from its leaves by aqueous extraction, followed by fractionation via a freezing–thawing process and Fehling precipitation. Methylation analysis and 13C NMR spectroscopy showed PGA to consist of (1 → 4)-linked α-d-GalpA repeating units. It significantly inhibited ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats, with an ED50 of 103 mg/kg, suggesting that it has a protective anti-ulcer effect. This polysaccharide may thus play an important role in the anti-ulcer effect of M. ilicifolia.
