ACTIVITY OF ORBIGNYA PHALERATA AND EUTERPE EDULES IN THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF PEPTIC ULCER IN RATS.

BACKGROUND: Peptic ulcer is considered a public health problem associated with loss of quality of life. Does not exist optimal therapeutic regimen. The search for alternative treatments using foods or plants that may assist in gastric protection may become marked in this population because of their easy access and low cost.

AIM: To study the antiulcerogenic activity of extracts of Orbignya phalerata (babaçu) and Euterpe edules (juçara) in Wistar rats after induction of peptic ulcer, compared with Omeprazole.

METHOD: Forty Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: group I, II, III, IV (10 rats each) subjected to extract of Orbignya phalerata, Euterpe edules, Omeprazole and ethanol, respectively. Each group of 10 rats was divided into subgroups of five for prophylaxis and therapeutic study.

RESULTS: The pre-treatment with juçara extract has provided a significant protection against peptic ulcer induced by ethanol. In the prophylactic subgroup, Omeprazole resulted in protection. In addition to protection against peptic ulcer, inflammation and neocapillarization were also variables with a statistical significance in the prophylaxis subgroups using omeprazole and juçara. In the therapeutic subgroup, omeprazole, juçara and babaçu were statistically different as for protection against the presence of inflammation and the healing of ulcers.

CONCLUSION: The extracts of juçara and babaçu behaved as the omeprazole, evidencing the therapeutic activity of these extracts.