ANTIULCEROGENIC ACTIVITY OF TRANS-DEHYDROCROTONIN FROM CROTON CAJUCARA

trons-Dehydrocrotonin (DHC), the major diterpene isolated from Croton cajucaro Benth, was assayed for antiulcerogenic acitivity in four indu ced gastric ulcer models in the rat. At an oral dose of 100 mg/kg DHC showed a significant antiulcerogenic effect on ulcers induced by hypot hermic restraint stress, ethanol, and pylorus ligature. No significant changes in indomethacin-induced gastric lesions or modifications in g astric parameters such as wall mucus, secretion rate, pH, and total ac id content were found after DHC treatment. The acute toxicological eff ects of DHC were assessed in mice. The LD50 values were 876 mg/kg and 47.2 mg/kg for oral and intraperitoneal administrations, respectively. The cytotoxicity of DHC was also studied. A dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability was observed in V-79 fibroblast cell cultures with an IC50 Of 240 mu M. The high yields of DHC obtained from dried C. caj ucara barks as well as its good antiulcerogenic activity and low toxic ity support the pharmacological study of this compound as a potential new antiulcerogenic drug.