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Gastroprotective activity of isopulegol on experimentally induced gastric lesions in mice: investigation of possible mechanisms of action

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Abstract

The present study investigated whether isopulegol, a monoterpene present in essential oils of several aromatic plants, would be able to promote some gastroprotective effect and also verified the possible mechanisms involved in this action. For this study, ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models in mice and histopathological assessment were used. The roles of NO, sulfhydryls (glutathione, GSH), ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP channels), and prostaglandins were also investigated. Isopulegol exhibited a dose-related gastroprotective effect against ethanol-induced lesions, while the pretreatment with glibenclamide and indomethacin [but not with N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester] were able to reverse this action. The pretreatment with isopulegol also restored GSH levels to normal levels and exhibited dose-related gastroprotective effect against indomethacin-induced ulcer. The results suggested that isopulegol presents significant gastroprotective effects in both ethanol- and indomethacin-induced ulcer models, which appear to be mediated, at least in part, by endogenous prostaglandins, KATP channel opening, and antioxidant properties.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the CNPq and CAPES for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Cel. Nunes de Melo 1127, CEP: 60431-270, Fortaleza, Brazil

    Maria Izabel Gomes Silva, Brinell Arcanjo Moura, Manuel Rufino de Aquino Neto, Nayrton Flávio Moura Rocha, Alyne Mara Rodrigues de Carvalho, Danielle Silveira Macêdo, Silvânia Maria Mendes Vasconcelos, Glauce Socorro de Barros Viana & Francisca Cléa Florenço de Sousa

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Ceará, Av. Paranjana 1700, Itaperi, CEP 60740-903, Fortaleza, Brazil

    Adriana da Rocha Tomé

  3. Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, Rua São Cristóvão, CEP 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil

    Damião Pergentino de Sousa

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  1. Maria Izabel Gomes Silva
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  2. Brinell Arcanjo Moura
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Correspondence to Francisca Cléa Florenço de Sousa.

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Silva, M.I.G., Moura, B.A., de Aquino Neto, M.R. et al. Gastroprotective activity of isopulegol on experimentally induced gastric lesions in mice: investigation of possible mechanisms of action. Naunyn-Schmied Arch Pharmacol 380, 233–245 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-009-0429-5

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