Anti-ulcer and anti-Helicobacter pylori potentials of the ethyl acetate fraction of Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Solanaceae) in rodent

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Solanaceae) has been widely used in Chinese folk medicine due to its wide distribution throughout the country, for the treatment of a wide range of diseases including heat and cold, sore throat, fever, fungal infection, inflammation, toothache, rheumatism, burn, analgesic, ulcer and urinary diseases. However, the effect of P. alkekengi var. franchetii on ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection has not been reported to date. Aim of the study: This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-Helicobacter pylori and analgesic properties of ethyl acetate fraction of the crude aqueous methanolic extract from the aerial parts of the plant P. alkekengi L. var. franchetii in rodents. Materials and methods: Acute toxicity of the crude extract of P. alkekengi L. var. franchetii (PAF) was evaluated in rats. The petroleum ether fraction (PEF), butanol fraction (BF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and aqueous fraction (AF) of crude aqueous methanolic extract from PAF were screened for anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer potential at doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg (p.o.), using carrageenin-induced hind paw edema and ethanol-induced gastric lesions test in rats. In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of EAF was assayed subsequently. In addition, three doses of EAF were evaluated for analgesic activity using hot plate and writhing tests, respectively. Finally, we performed a phytochemical analysis of EAF. Results: Four fractions of crude extract from PAF significantly reduced the paw volume in carrageenin-induced hind paw edema model at different doses (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.). The fraction EAF at a dose of 500 mg/ kg exhibited the highest (75.92%) (0.150 +/- 0.045***, ***p < 0.001) anti-inflammatory potential, which is similar to indomethacin (***P < 0.001)(0.120 +/- 0.014***, 80.74% inhibition of inflammation) at 5 mg/kg. Pretreatment with EAF (500 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced the intensity of gastric mucosal damage and showed higher gastroprotective activity (90.6%) when compared to the standard drug famotidine (84.6%). In addition, EAF fraction also showed a moderate (P < 0.05) anti-Helicobacter pylori activity with a minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of 500 pg/ml. Furthermore, pain sensation was effectively inhibited at 500 mg/kg, p.o. of EAF as manifested by an increase (p < 0.001) of,latency time in hot plate from 30 to 90 min and a decrease (p < 0.001) in count of writhing induced by acetic acid. By HPLC, we determined some steroid, terpenoid and flavonoids (four compounds): kaempferol, quercetin, Blumenol A and physalindicanols A, which were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction and identified using H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR spectra analysis. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-Helicobacter pylori and analgesic properties of EAF of the crude extract from PAF thus justifying its traditional usage.