The methanolic extract of Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. and its major compound pinostrobin induces anti-ulcerogenic property in vivo: Possible involvement of indirect antioxidant action

• Main Authors: Abdelwahab, S.I., Mohan, S., Abdulla, M.A., Sukari, M.A., Abdul, A.B., Taha, M.M., Syam, S., Ahmad, S., Lee, K.H.
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2011
• Subjects: RS Pharmacy and materia medica
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/1905/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21771650

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. has been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders including peptic ulcer. AIM OF THE STUDY: The current study aimed to investiagte the anti-ulcer activities of methanolic extract of Boesenbergia rotunda (MEBR) and its main active compound, pinostrobin on ethanol-induced ulcer in rats. We also investigated the possible involvement of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, cyclooxygenases and free radical scavenging mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pinostrobin was isolated form the rhizomes of Boesenbergia rotunda. Ulcer index, gastric juice acidity, mucus content, gross and histological gastric lesions and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) were evaluated in ethanol-induced ulcer in vivo. The effect of pinostrobin into lipopolysaccharide/interferon-γ stimulated rodent cells, COX-1 and COX-2 activities were done in vitro. RESULTS: Pre-treatment with MEBR, pinostrobin or omeprazole protected the gastric mucosa as seen by reduction in ulcer area and mucosal content, reduced or absence of submucosal edema and leucocytes infiltration. Pinostrobin significantly (P<0.05) lowered the elevated TBARS level into gasteric homogenate. Pinostrobin did not produced significant in vitro inhibition of NO from LPS/IFN-γ activated rodent cells without affecting the viability of these cells. Further, the compound did not revealed inhibitory effects on both COX-1 and -2 enzymes. The antioxidant assays also exhibited non significance in vitro. CONCLUSION: Thus it can be concluded that MEBR possesses anti-ulcer activity, which could be attributed to indirect anti-oxidant mechanism of pinostrobin but not to the intervention with nitric oxide and COX inflammation pathways.