Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Advances in Traditional Medicine https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-020-00466-2 RESEARCH ARTICLE Baccharis trimera (carqueja) promotes gastroprotection on ethanol‑induced acute gastric ulcer Ana Carolina Silveira Rabelo 1,2  · Fernanda Caetano Camini 1  · Melissa Maia Bittencourt 3  · Kíssyla Lacerda 3  · Wanderson Geraldo de Lima 3  · Daniela Caldeira Costa 1 Received: 10 July 2019 / Accepted: 29 May 2020 © Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University 2020 Abstract One of the factors that can promote gastric ulcer is the acute and/or chronic consumption of ethanol. One of the most used therapeutic measures is the use of proton pump inhibitor, like omeprazole. However, these drugs have several side efects, making it necessary to search for new alternatives. To investigate the gastroprotective efect of Baccharis trimera (carqueja) we used an ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer model. For this, gastric ulcer was induced in rats using absolute ethanol for 2 consecutive days. After analysis of the stomach, an increase in oxidative stress was observed, as well as the reduction of the antioxidant defense. In addition, we observed in histology that there was an increase in infammatory cells, necrosis, hemorrhage and hyperemia. Treatment with B. trimera was able to decrease oxidative damage as well as improve antioxidant defense. There was also a decrease in infammation, collagen area and hemorrhage. All the benefcial efects promoted by carqueja were similar to those found by the positive controls used in our study (vitamin C and omeprazole). Analyzing our data, we can conclude that B. trimera presents a gastroprotective efect and should be further studied for its application in gastric ulcer therapy. Graphical abstract After 2 days of consumption of absolute ethanol, the animals’ stomachs showed an increase in oxidative stress, characterized by reduction of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and increase of TBARS and carbonylated protein. This situation led to stomach infammation, necrosis, hemorrhage and hyperemia. These was minimized by the consumption of Baccharis trimera extracts (Bt), since it was able to decrease oxidative damage and increasing GSSG, reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT). Ana Carolina Silveira Rabelo, Fernanda Caetano Camini and Melissa Maia Bittencourt contributed equally to this work. * Ana Carolina Silveira Rabelo ana_rabelo@usp.br; ana_far3p@yahoo.com.br 1 Laboratory of Metabolic Biochemistry (LBM), Department of Biological Sciences (DECBI), Center of Research in Biological Science (NUPEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, Brazil 2 Laboratory of Stem Cell, Department of Anatomy of Domestic and Wild Animals and Department of Surgery (VCI), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508 270, Brazil 3 Laboratory of Morphology, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, MG 35400-000, Brazil