Objective: Gastric ulcers are a global health issue, often occurring in the stomach or duodenum and causing tissue necrosis. Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn (Erva-gorda) is used in traditional medicine for treating gastric ulcers. This study aimed to assess the gastroprotective effects of the ethanol-soluble fraction from T. paniculatum leaves (ESTP) in rodents.
Methods:The gastroprotective potential of ESTP was evaluated at 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg taken orally, or 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally against gastric lesions induced by a 60% ethanol solution containing 0.3 mol/L hydrochloric acid, in mice. Histological sections were examined after hematoxylin-eosin staining and their mucin content was determined using the periodic acid-Schiff method. Oxidative stress markers, including levels of reduced glutathione and lipid hydroperoxide, as well as inflammatory parameters such as myeloperoxidase activity and nitrite levels, were analyzed. Mechanistic studies involved pretreating the mice with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and indomethacin.
Results: ESTP at 300 mg/kg orally and 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally significantly reduced ethanol/HCl-induced gastric injury. It decreased lipid hydroperoxide levels but did not increase levels of reduced glutathione. Myeloperoxidase activity and nitrite levels were reduced. However, ESTP did not restore mucin levels. Pretreatment with indomethacin nullified the protective effects of ESTP while NEM and L-NAME did not.
Conclusion: ESTP demonstrated a remarkable gastroprotective effect, as indicated by reductions in inflammatory and oxidative mediators. The observed decline in mucin activity, coupled with the absence of an effect following indomethacin pretreatment, implies a potential inhibition of the cyclooxygenase activity by the extract. These findings collectively support the traditional use of the species for gastrointestinal protection and highlight its potential as a therapeutic agent for managing gastric ulcers. Please cite this article as: Pegoraro Correa KG, do Carmo Barroso de Siqueira M, Zanovello M, Martins Belmudes M, de Souza P, Gasparotto Junior A, Boeing T. Gastroprotective activity of Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. in mice: An ethnopharmacological validation. J Integr Med. 2026; 24(2):279-286.

Key words: Anti-ulcer agents, Erva-gorda, Gastric ulcers, Oxidative stress