Planta Med 2004; 70(12): 1150-1154
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-835843
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Inhibitory Effects of Centella asiatica Water Extract and Asiaticoside on Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase During Gastric Ulcer Healing in Rats

Jin Sheng Guo1 , 2 , Chuen Lung Cheng1 , Marcel Wing Leung Koo1
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • 2Division of Gastroenterology, Zhong Shan Hospital, Fu Dan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Received: March 12, 2004

Accepted: June 27, 2004

Publikationsdatum:
10. Januar 2005 (online)

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Abstract

In this study, the effects of Centella asiatica water extract (CE) and its active constituent, asiaticoside (AC), on the expression and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) during gastric ulcer healing in rats were investigated. CE was prepared from Centella asiatica dry plant and the concentration of AC in CE was quantitatively determined with the use of high performance liquid chromatography analysis. Different concentrations of CE (0.10 g/kg and 0.25 g/kg) and AC (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) were orally administered to rats with acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers. They were found to reduce the size of the ulcers at days 1, 3 and 7 after ulcer induction in a dose-dependent manner, with a concomitant attenuation of iNOS activity and protein expression at the ulcer tissues. The levels of nitrite and nitrate (NOX -), the stable end-products of nitric oxide (NO), in the gastric ulcer tissues were also decreased. N-[3-(aminomethyl)benzyl]acetamidine (1400W), a highly selective inhibitor of iNOS, was found to produce similar but more potent inhibition on iNOS activity at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. These findings indicate that CE and AC have an anti-inflammatory property that is brought about by inhibition of NO synthesis and thus facilitates ulcer healing.

Abbreviations

CE:Centella asiatica water extract

AC:asiaticoside

iNOS:inducible nitric oxide synthase

NO:nitric oxide

NOx-:nitrite and nitrate

1400W:N-[3-(aminomethyl)benzyl]acetamidine

HPLC:high performance liquid chromatography