This study evaluated the gastroprotective potential of methanolic extract from fruits of Campomanesia reitziana (MECR) and its isolated
chalcone dimethyl cardamonin (DMC). The phenolic compound in the extract, and the
free radical scavenging activity of MECR and DMC, were quantified. The gastroprotective activity of MECR (30-300 mg/kg, p.o) and DMC (1 and 3 mg/kg, p.o) was determined by
ethanol/HCl-induced
gastric ulcers in mice. Histological, histochemical, and biochemical analyses were performed in the ulcerated tissue. MECR showed a high content of phenolic compounds, including DMC, and was able to scavenge DPPH radicals by 29.58% at 1000 μg/mL. However, DCM (1-1000 μg/mL) did not reduce DPPH radicals. Pre-treatment with MECR at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg reduced the gastric lesions by 35.07 and 79.47%, respectively (ulcerated-vehicle group 10.72 ± 0.88 mm2). Moreover, the extract increased the
mucin content by 1044.44% and
superoxide dismutase activity by 20.04%, and decreased the
lipoperoxide levels by 39.39%, compared to the ulcerated-vehicle group (0.27 ± 0.04 pixels × 103/field; 57.37 ± 1.59 U SOD/mg of
protein and 29.57 ± 2.99 mmol LOOH/mg of tissue, respectively). However, MECR did not prevent the depletion of
reduced glutathione or the decrease in
catalase activity. Pre-treatment with DMC, at 1 and 3 mg/kg, also reduced the
gastric ulcers by 53.83 and 52.64%, respectively. In summary, these findings confirm the gastroprotective activity of MECR and DMC, and open an interesting field concerning the gastroprotective potential of
dimethyl cardamonin, given its potent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity already described.