title: Gastroprotective effect and antioxidant properties of different Laurus nobilis L. leaf extracts.
abstract: Laurus nobilis L. (Family Lauraceae) is an evergreen tree widely distributed in the Mediterranean area and Europe. It is used in folk medicine of different countries as a stomachic and carminative as well as in treatment of gastric diseases. Extracts obtained with different methods (methanol and chloroform) from laurel leaves were evaluated for their gastroprotective activities in the rat. The antioxidant capacity of the different extracts has been also measured in vitro. In order to confirm the activities investigated, histological observations were performed. The gastric damage was significantly reduced by all extracts administered. The more effective protection was produced by chloroformic and methanolic crude extracts. The results obtained after oral administration of L. nobilis leaf extracts are in good agreement with their antioxidant capacity, confirming the relationship between pharmacological efficacy and antiradical activity. Histological evidences confirm the results evaluated with the animal procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. ester.speroni@unibo.it
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Speroni
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cervellati
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dall'Acqua
authors.forename: Maria Clelia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Govoni
authors.forename: Gabbriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Innocenti
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027442:Laurus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts