title: Gastroprotective activity of methanol extract and marrubiin obtained from leaves of Marrubium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the gastroprotective properties of the methanol extract and the diterpene marrubiin obtained from the leaves of M. vulgare.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assays were performed using different protocols in mice. Studies focusing on mechanisms of gastroprotection were also undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the model of ethanol-induced ulcers, we observed a significant reduction in all the parameters analysed; the curative ratios obtained were 49.31±0.57, 74.31±0.91 and 79.86±0.59 for the groups treated with 50 and 100mg/kg of extract of M. vulgare and omeprazole (30mg/kg), respectively. For indomethacin-induced ulcers, the percentages of ulcer inhibition were 50.32±5.60, 66.24±4.30, 82.17±04.09 and 67.52±4.38, for the groups treated with 25, 50 and 100mg/kg M. vulgare and positive control (cimetidine), respectively. In both models, the marrubiin (25mg/kg) produced a significant reduction in all the parameters when compared with the control group (P<0.01). There was also a significant increase in pH and mucus production in the groups treated with M. vulgare extract and marubiin. The results also demonstrated that the gastroprotection induced by the extract and marubiin is related to the activity of nitric oxide and endogenous sulfhydryls, which are important gastroprotective factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that the extract of M. vulgare and marrubiin displays antiulcer activity and that this effect can be partly attributed to the isolated diterpene.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Mestrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Núcleo de Investigações Químico-Farmacêuticas (NIQFAR), Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI), Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paula de Oliveira
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Santin
authors.forename: Marivane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Klein Júnior
authors.forename: Angélica Garcia
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Couto
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyre da Silva Bittencourt
authors.forename: Valdir Cechinel
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faloni de Andrade
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000431:Ethanol; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007213:Indomethacin; D027522:Marrubium / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; C105731:marrubiin; D007213:Indomethacin