Life Sci. 1998 ; 63(17): PL245-50.

Protective effects of oleanolic acid oligoglycosides on ethanol- or indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats.

Matsuda H, Li Y, Murakami T, Yamahara J, Yoshikawa M.

Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Japan.

We examined the effects of various oleanolic acid oligoglycosides obtained from traditional herbs on ethanol- or indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats and on gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. Test samples were given orally to fasted rats 1 h before absolute ethanol (1.5 ml/rat, p.o.) or indomethacin (30 mg/kg, s.c.) treatment, or ligation of the pylorus. Oleanolic acid 3-O-monodesmosides [oleanolic acid 3-O-glucuronide (1, 20-50 mg/kg), momordin Ic (2, 5-50 mg/kg), and 28-O-deglucosyl-chikusetsusaponins IV (5, 10-50 mg/kg) and V (7, 10-50 mg/kg)] were found to show protective effects on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions, whereas oleanolic acid 3,28-O-bisdesmosides [momordin IIc (3), chikusetsusaponins IV (4) and V (6)], oleanolic acid 28-O-monodesmoside [compound O (8)], and their common aglycon [oleanolic acid (9)] showed no such effects. Oleanolic acid 3-O-monodesmosides (1, 2, and 5) also showed protective effects on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions. 28-O-Deglucosyl-chikusetsusaponin V (7) did not inhibit the indomethacin-induced lesions, while chikusetsusaponins V (6, 50 mg/kg) had the gastroprotective effect. These active saponins (1, 2, 4-7, 10-50 mg/kg) did not decrease the gastric secretion by oral administration in pylorus-ligated rats.