Scholarly record

THE IDENTIFICATION OF NATURAL ACTIVE PRINCIPLES WITH IMPLICATION IN GASTRIC CYTOPROTECTION

Mariana Arcus, Gabriela Lilios, Verginica Schroder, Ramona M. Stoicescu

Abstract

It is known that complex polysaccharides (polyuronides) are natural macromolecular compounds located in all the plant organs in special histological formations (cells and canals), as well as in the external seminal tegument. In contact with water, they form colloidal solutions or gels. Under the action of the intestinal flora they are split and form a protective film for mucous membranes as well as create a pH unfavorable for the development of the pathogenic microbial flora involved in the degradation of the intestinal tract. This is why they are used in the symptomatic treatment of gastroenteritis, ulcer and non-specific diarrhea, especially in infants. Also, some polysaccharides influence the immune system by the stimulation of interferon secretion, while others are inhibitors of the serum complement and act as anti-inflammatory agents. This paper deals with the phytochemical study of certain spontaneous species from Dobrudja, namely Nectaroscordum siculum, Berteroa incana, Amaranthus retroflexus and Mercurialis ovata, with the purpose of gaining knowledge about the active principles in their vegetative organs and of appreciating the quality of the vegetal products by dosing the polysaccharides present in them. As a work method, the qualitative chemical assay within the pharmacognostic analysis was used. This involves the successive extraction of vegetal products with solvents of various polarities (ethereal, alcoholic, aqueous) and the identification of chemical compounds by methods corresponding to the physic-chemical properties of each group of active principles. The dosing of polysaccharides was accomplished by gravimetric method. The results obtained subsequently to the dosing of polyuronides in the vegetal products of the studied species emphasized the following (polyuronides per 100g of vegetal product): 4.0519g % - Nectaroscordii bulbus; 5.0657g % - Nectaroscordii herba; 0.9307g % - Berteroa incanae herba; 6.3810g % - Amarantii retroflexus folium; 0.6865g % - Amarantii retroflexus radix; 0.3897g % - Amarantii retroflexus flores; 2.5262g % - Mercurialis ovatae herba. Knowledge of the ratio of these active principles is necessary for the use of these plants in various pharmaceutical forms for the prevention of gastritis and gastric ulcer, as well as in the therapy of intestinal inflammatory processes through their immunomodulating action.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2014/B12/S2.123

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