Cardiospermum corindum L. (Sapindaceae) has gastroprotective and antispasmodic effect on rodent model

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effects of crude ethanol extract obtained from the aerial parts Cardiospermum corindum (Cc-EtOH) on the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer assay in rats, its oral acute toxicity on mice, and its antispasmodic activity on the isolated rat ileum. Methods: The Cc-EtOH was evaluated on ethanol-induced rat gastric lesions. To verify the safety this extract in vivo, the acute toxicity assay was performed during 14 days in mice. Finally, effects of extract on rat ileum were analyzed. Results: The Cc-EtOH extract (50, 150 and 500 mg/kg) significantly protected the rat gastric mucosa layer (ULA = 210.0 ± 55.8; 119.2 ± 39.3 and 47.7 ± 13.2 mm2, respectively) from lesions induced by ethanol (ULA = 367.5 ± 89.3mm2), as effectively as omeprazole. The histological analyses also corroborated its protective effect. In addition, 60-min treatment with a single dose 2 g/kg p.o. of Cc-EtOH extract promoted mice sedation (n = 5), which reversed after 30 min., without causing neither animal death, nor body mass, water ingestion, or feed alterations, during 14 days thus showing no acute toxicity. The antispasmodic effect of the Cc-EtOH extract was evidenced on the phasic component of the isolated rat ileum contractions elicited by CCh and KCl (IC50 = 236 ± 59 and 201 ± 43mg/ml, respectively). Conclusion: the aereal parts of C. corindum contain chemical compounds which are able to promote effective gastric protection in rats, in the absence of any acute toxicity, combined with the antispasmodic effect in vitro.