Antiulcerogenic activity of the essential oil of Hyptis martiusii Benth. (Lamiaceae).

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Hyptis martiusii (Lamiaceae), popularly known as "cidreira-do-mato" or "cidreira-brava", grows in abundance in the Northeast region of Brazil, where its leaves are traditionally used in folk medicine in the treatment of intestinal and stomach diseases. The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical constituents and to evaluate the anti-ulcerogenic activity of the essential oil of the leaves of Hyptis martiusii (EOHM) in in vivo models of experimental ulcers in rodents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

EOHM was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Acute gastric ulcer was induced using absolute ethanol, HCl/ethanol and indomethacin. The volume, pH and total acidity of gastric secretion were determined by the pyloric ligature method and gastrointestinal motility using gastric emptying and intestinal transit.

RESULTS:

Chemical analysis revealed the presence of 24 components that account for 92.13% of the essential oil of dried leaves, indicating the occurrence of mono and sesquiterpenes. Oral administration of EOHM (100, 200 and 400mg/kg) inhibited ethanol-, HCl/ethanol- and indomethacin-induced ulcers. In the case of pylorus ligature, the oil reduced the volume of gastric juices and total acidity, and increased gastric pH. The EOHM reduced the rate of gastric emptying with only the highest doses, but did not show any effect on intestinal transit at any of the three doses.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results indicate that the essential oil of leaves of Hyptis martiusii has an antiulcerogenic activity, as evidenced by its significant inhibition of the formation of ulcers in various models. This effect could be related to an increase of gastric mucosal defensive factors. Further pharmacological studies are being undertaken in order to provide more precise elucidation of the action mechanism involved in this activity.

• Authors: Germana Freire Rocha Caldas, Iggor Macêdo do Amaral Costa, Juciene Bezerra Rodrigues da Silva, Rafaella Farias da Nóbrega, Fabíola Fernandes Galvão Rodrigues, José Galberto Martins da Costa, Almir Gonçalves Wanderley
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 137 Issue 1 Pg. 886-92 (Sep 01 2011) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 21774910 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Ulcer Agents
• Oils, Volatile
• Plant Oils
• Plant Preparations
• Ethanol
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Indomethacin

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Ulcer Agents (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Ethanol
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Gastric Emptying (drug effects)
• Gastric Juice (metabolism)
• Gastric Mucosa (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Gastrointestinal Transit (drug effects)
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Hyptis (chemistry)
• Indomethacin
• Male
• Medicine, Traditional
• Mice
• Oils, Volatile (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Plant Leaves
• Plant Oils (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Plant Preparations (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Plants, Medicinal
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Stomach Ulcer (chemically induced, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Time Factors