Antiulcerogenic and analgesic effects of Maytenus aquifolium, Sorocea bomplandii and Zolernia ilicifolia

Maytenus aquifolium (Celastraceae), Sorocea bomplandii (Moraceae) and Zoler nia ilicifolia (Fabaceae) are native plants from the Tropical Atlantic Fore st (Mata Atlantica, Brazil) known a 'espinheira-santa'. These plants are tr aditionally used as analgesic and antiulcerogenic medicine, with the same t raditional uses of the true 'espinheira-santa' (Maytenus ilicifolia, Celast raceae), an efficient antiulcerogenic agent. Pharmacological and toxicologi cal studies with these plants have not been carried out. The purpose in thi s study was to evaluate the efficacy (analgesic and antiulcerogenic activit ies), safety (acute toxicity) and quality (phytochemical profile) of these three plants. The analgesic effect was analyzed by writhing and tail flick tests, while anti Ulcerogenic effect was performed through ulcer induction by ethanol and indomethacin/bethanecol assays. LD., and acute toxic effects , as well as phytochemical profiles of all plants also were carried. Surpri singly, the three plants showed analgesic and antiulcerogenic effects at do se of 1000 mg/kg, v.o. Maytenus aquifolium lowering all ulcerogenic paramet ers (ethanol test), but increased the ulcerogenic effects in the indonietha cin/bethanecol test. Sorocea bomplandii produced antiulcerogenic effects in both experimental models used, while Zolernia ilicifolia showed significan t effects only in indomethacin/bethanecol-induced gastric lesions. Pre-trea tment with Zolernia ilicifolia induced someone toxic effects, A phytochemic al profile for each plant species was determined and its main chemical clas ses of compounds were described. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.