title: Gastroprotective activity of carvacrol on experimentally induced gastric lesions in rodents.
abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective activity of carvacrol, a monoterpene present in essential oils from several species of medicinal and aromatic plants, by using different models of acute gastric lesions in rodents and also evaluate possible mechanisms involved in this action. For this study, absolute ethanol-, acidified ethanol-, ischemia and reperfusion-, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced models of gastric lesions in mice and rats were used. The roles of nonprotein sulfhydryl groups, catalase, nitric oxide (NO), ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP) channels), and prostaglandins in carvacrol-induced gastroprotective effect were investigated. In addition, the effects of carvacrol on gastric secretion and mucus in pylorus-ligated rats were also determined. The results of the present study demonstrated that carvacrol promoted a marked gastroprotection in all models investigated, possibly mediated by endogenous prostaglandins, increase of mucus production, K(ATP) channels opening, NO synthase activation, and antioxidant properties. These findings markedly substantiate further studies to investigate the therapeutic potential of carvacrol as an effective gastroprotective agent and its safety profile in medicinal use.
authors: Medicinal Plants Research Center, Federal University of Piauí, Av. Nossa Senhora de Fátima s/n, 64049-550, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil.
authors: Irisdalva S
authors: IS
authors: Oliveira
authors: Francilene V
authors: FV
authors: da Silva
authors: Ana Flávia S C
authors: AF
authors: Viana
authors: Márcio R V
authors: MR
authors: dos Santos
authors: Lucindo J
authors: LJ
authors: Quintans-Júnior
authors: Maria do Carmo C
authors: Mdo C
authors: Martins
authors: Paulo H M
authors: PH
authors: Nunes
authors: Francisco de A
authors: Fde A
authors: Oliveira
authors: Rita de C M
authors: Rde C
authors: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000633:toxicity; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000081007:Cymenes; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D054086:KATP Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D000081007:Cymenes; D054086:KATP Channels; D039821:Monoterpenes; D011453:Prostaglandins; D000431:Ethanol; C073316:carvacrol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase