Petiveria Alliacea L. Extract for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Edwin J. Alvarado, University of Puerto Rico, Cayey, PR

Abstract

Petiveria alliacea L. is a very influential plant in Latin-American traditional medicine. P. alliacea, also known as anamú, is believed to possess a myriad of properties; however, countless research has backed up some of its medicinal traits with solid evidence. Of the proven characteristics, two are key to this research: antibacterial1 and analgesic2. These two qualities can account for the plant’s reputation for calming GERD. The real question is if the plant’s extract can alter the stomach’s environment to an extent that can calm GERD beyond just killing bacteria (Helicobacter pylori) and relieving pain and discomfort. The proposal is that if the stomach’s contents are irrigated with anamú extract, it will raise the pH levels of the stomach or, more ideally, inhibit the stomach’s acid irrigation in a long term exposition. To determine if the components of the plant’s extract can neutralize the stomach’s pH, inhibit its acid irrigation, calm some of the stomach’s abnormal conditions, and the efficiency of a long term versus a short term treatment. If proven accurate, the plant can provide an alternative treatment to those afflicted with GERD.

Materials and Methodology

Using rats as the main specimen, examine the stomach contents of four (4) groups of twenty (20) rats weekly for a period of four weeks. The rats will be exposed to P. alliacea extract and no acid promoter foods (Group A), extract and the presence of acid promoter foods (Group B), no extract but with acid promoters (Group C), and to neither extract nor acid promoter foods (Group D, or Negative Control). As mentioned before, during each week five (5) rats will be extracted from each group, and their stomach’s contents will be examined for pH, HCl, NaCl and KaCl concentration, among other substances such as different hormones and proteins. But the main focus is pH because it offers a glimpse at what is happening at the molecular level. After recollecting all of the results, formulate final conclusion. The abovementioned will constitute the in vivo portion of the experiment. But before carrying out this

experiment, it would be helpful to prepare a solution of the various components of gastric acid and slowly add consecutive doses of anamú extract while recording pH between doses. This simple experiment could help shed light to the fact that if the extract acts as a buffer solution. Afterwards it would be useful to determine the solution’s buffer region.

Expected Results

The plant’s extract will most probably yield the hypothesis true. This is due to the analysis of the disease: the plant must be causing more within the stomach than just eliminating Helicobacter pylori and calming the pain of the ailed, because GERD is not a simple disease to deal with.

Future Work

After conducting the aforementioned experiments, two sources for the extract will be compared to see which of them (leaf or root) yields the greatest effects. In addition, if the hypothesis is proved to be correct, determining which components of the plant’s extract affect the stomach will be the next task to be carried out. Experimentation using human subjects may be considered; however, some of the components of the plant’s extract are believed to be extremely toxic. Until research on the plant suggests otherwise, human experimentation is a matter to be handled delicately.

References

1. Kim S, Kubic R, Musah RA. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of sulfur-containing compounds from Petiveria Alliacea L. 2005. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com. Accessed: 2012 June 21.

2. Lopes-Martins RAB, Pegoraro DH, Woisky R, Penna SC, Sertié JAA. The anti-Inflammatory and analgesic effects of a crude extract of Petiveria Alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae). 2004. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com. Accessed: 2012 June 21.