Gastrointestinal activity of Quassia amara aqueous extract (Simarubaceae)

The gastrointestinal activity of an aqueous extract of the dry wood of Quas sia amara was investigated using animal models. Oral administration of the extract to mice produces an increase of gastrointestinal transit at doses o f 500 and 1000 mg/kg. The antiulcerogenic activity was measured inducing ul cers on Sprague-Dowly rats with indomethacin or ethanol and by the inductio n of stress. The experimental group was treated orally with the extract, us ing doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg before inducing the ulcers. Animals tr eated orally with 0.5 ml of water and ranitidine (50 mg/kg) were used as co ntrols. All the animals treated with the extract at doses of 500 and 1000 m g/kg showed important protection against ulcer generation. Piloric ligation was used to stablish the activity on total acidity, peptic activity, non-p rotein sulfhydryl groups, and mucus production. Animals treated with 1000 m g/kg showed a reduction on acidity and peptic activity. No activity was det ected on mucus production and non-protein sulfhydryl groups at these dosis but with 1500 mg/kg they showed an increase on non-protein sulfhydryl group s producction.