title: Protective effect of Calamintha officinalis Moench leaves against alcohol-induced gastric mucosa injury in rats. Macroscopic, histologic and phytochemical analysis.
abstract: Calamintha officinalis Moench (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic plant used since ancient times for its preservative and medicinal properties. The plant, known as 'Mentuccia' in Central Italy, is used in cooking as an aromatizant and to impart aroma and flavour to food. The methanol extract of the leaves was subjected to phytochemical and biological investigations. The extract contains polyphenols, catechic tannins and terpenes and shows radical scavenger activity. By means of HPLC analysis, eriocitrin, eriodyctiol, acacetin, linarin, benzoic acid and some phenolic acids, such as caffeic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, were determined. The gastroprotective activity of the extract was investigated using ethanol-induced ulcer in rats, with sucralfate as a reference drug. Samples of gastric mucosa, stained by PAS and haematoxylin/eosin, were observed by light microscopy. The efficacy of the extract was comparable to that of the reference drug. Probably the gastroprotective effect depends on a synergistic action of all the compounds occurring in C. officinalis leaves, even if the antioxidant potential of the leaves plays an important role by removing damaging agents from the gastric mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaco-Biological Department, School of Pharmacy, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Monforte
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lanuzza
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pergolizzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mondello
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tzakou
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Galati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D044950:Flavanones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D006416:Hematoxylin; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012015:Reference Standards; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D044950:Flavanones; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D020011:Protective Agents; D013729:Terpenes; D000431:Ethanol; D013392:Sucralfate; C114706:eriocitrin; C007619:eriodictyol; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D000432:Methanol; D006416:Hematoxylin