Effect of Dichloromethane Extract of Kielmeyera coriacea Stems on Hepatic Catabolism of L-Alanine in Rats

SUMMARY. The present study evaluates the effect of the treatment with dichloromethane (DcM) extract of Kielmeyera coriacea stems on hepatic catabolism of L-alanine (5 mM) in male and female Wistar rats. The rats were daily treated by gavage with DcM extract of K. coriacea (5 or 25 mg/kg) or an equal volume of vehicle (controls) during 90 days. After this period of treatment the animals were fasted (12 h), anaesthetized and submitted to liver perfusion. Livers from male and female rats treated with DcM extract (5 or 25 mg/kg) showed lower gluconeogenesis in comparison with livers from control animals. In addition, lower urea production was obtained in livers from female rats treated with DcM extract (25 mg/kg). However, the treatment with DcM extract (5 or 25 mg/kg) did not influence the hepatic production of pyruvate and L-lactate when compared with the control group. The results indicate that DcM extract of K. coriacea inhibits the gluconeogenesis, suggesting inhibition of the energetic metabolism in the liver. RESUMEN. “Efecto del Extracto Diclorometanico (DcM) de Tallo de Kielmeyera coriacea en el Catabolismo Hepatico de L-alanina en Ratas”. En el presente estudio se evaluo el efecto del tratamiento con extracto diclorometanico (DcM) del tallo de Kielmeyera coriacea en el catabolismo hepatico da L-alanina (5 mM) em ratas Wistar machos y hembras. Las ratas fueron tratadas diariamente con exctrato DcM de K. coriacea (5 o 25 mg/kg) o igual volumen de vehiculo (control) durante 90 dias. Despues de este periodo de tratamiento, los animais em ayunas (12 h) fueron anestesiados y sometidos a perfusion de higado. Los higados de ratas machos y hembras tratados con extracto DcM (5 ou 25 mg/kg) mostraron menor gliconeogenesis em relacion a los higados de los animales control. Ademas se obtuvo menor produccion hepatica de urea en ratas tratadas con extracto DcM (25 mg/kg). Mientras tanto, el tratamiento com el extracto DcM (5 ou 25 mg/kg) no influencio la produccion hepatica de piruvato ni de L-lactato en comparacion con el grupo control. Los resultados indican que el extracto DcM de tallo de K. coriacea inhibe la gliconeogenesis, sugiriendo la inhibicion del metabolismo energetico hepatico.