[Anti-ulcer effect of extract from phellodendri cortex].

In chinese medicine, Phellodendri Cortex (Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht) has been used to treat the patient who suffers from gastroenteritis, abdominal pain or diarrhea. Berberine has been identified as a major component in this plant, and it has biological activities, such as bactericidal activity, anti-cholera toxin effect, anti-inflammatory effect, stimulative effect of bile secretion or bilirubin discharge. In the previous study, we have shown the presence of anti-inflammatory activity in the berberine-free fraction of the extract from this plant. In the present study, we also found anti-ulcer activity in the fraction. The fraction significantly inhibited the formation of ethanol-induced ulcer, aspirin-induced ulcer (s.c., p.o.), pylorus-ligated ulcer (p.o., i.d.) in rats, as well as that of stress ulcer in restrained and water-immersed mice (p.o.). In addition, gastric acid secretion was significantly reduced in pylorus-ligated rats by subcutaneous or intraduodenal administration of the fraction, but not by oral administration. These findings suggest that the suppression of ulcer formation may be due to the additive effect of the cytoprotection effect and the reduction of gastric acid secretion by administration of the berberine-free fraction.