The acetone soluble fraction from bark extract of Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) coville inhibits gastric acid secretion and experimental gastric ulceration in rats.

The acetone soluble fraction from a crude methanol extract of Stryphnodendron adstringens stem bark (AFSAB) was evaluated in acute (ethanol, indomethacin and hypothermic restraint-stress) and chronic (acetic acid) models of gastric ulceration and on basal and bethanechol-stimulated gastric acid secretion in rats. Rats pretreated orally with AFSAB at doses of 400 and 800 mg/kg showed significant decreases of gastric lesion scores in ethanol (62% and 98%) and hypothermic restraint-stress (89% and 88%) models but exerted no significant influence on indomethacin-induced acute or acetic acid-induced chronic ulceration. In pylorus-ligated rats, AFSAB significantly decreased the basal as well as bethanechol-stimulated gastric secretory volume and the total acidity with an elevated pH value. AFSAB failed to modify the gastric mucus and the gastric wall nonprotein-sulphydryl content. These results point to a possible antisecretory effect of AFSAB which account for the observed antiulcer activity in ethanol and hypothermic restraint-stress induced models of acute gastric ulceration. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.