Abstract
Found in humid regions and waterways and popularly used to treat gastrointestinal problems among other applications, the present study evaluated the M. aquatica essential oil (OEMa) as a therapeutic alternative to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Produced by steam distillation, chemical composition of OEMa was determined by GC–MS analysis. The ethanol-induced ulcer and the dose-repeated acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced gastrointestinal lesions models in rats evaluated, respectively, the prophylactic and curative effects of EOMa on peptic ulcers. The EOMa’s effect on gastric secretion, gastric mucus and gastrointestinal motility were evaluated in in vivo models. The curative effect of EOMa on acute colitis was evaluated using the DSS-induced colitis model in mice. Obtained in 0.17% yield (w/w), with carvone (54.82 ± 1.39 g/100 g oil) as the main constituent, EOMa (at 75 mg/kg) showed potent gastroprotective effect (> 90%) mediated by non-protein sulfhydryl compounds (NPSH) and nitric oxide (NO) modulation alongside reduction in gastric secretion volume and total acidity. EOMa did not affect gastric mucus production and gastrointestinal motility. In dose-repeated ASA-induced gastrointestinal lesions model, EOMa (at 25 mg/kg) promoted the inflammatory process resolution both in gastric and duodenal walls by modulating NPSH, NO and myeloperoxidase levels. Despite delaying in 2 days the clinical symptoms worsening, EOMa (at 25 mg/kg) was not able to protect colon tissues from DSS-induced acute colitis as evidenced by macroscopic, biochemical, and histopathological parameters. This is the first report of Mentha aquatica essential oil as a promising herbal medicine for peptic ulcers treatment together with an adjuvant effect in IBD.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- ASA:
-
Acetylsalicylic acid
- CMC:
-
Carboxymethylcellulose
- COX:
-
Cicloxigenase
- DAI:
-
Disease activity index
- DSS:
-
Dextran sulfate sodium
- DTNB:
-
5,5'-Ditiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)
- EDTA:
-
Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid
- EOMa:
-
Essential oil of Mentha aquatica
- GSH:
-
Glutathione
- IBD:
-
Inflammatory bowel disease
- l-NAME:
-
N-Nitro-l-arginine
- MPO:
-
Myeloperoxidase
- NEM:
-
N-Ethylmaleimide
- NO:
-
Nitric oxide
- NPSH:
-
Non-protein sulfhydryl compounds
- NSAID:
-
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- PBS:
-
Phosphate-buffered saline
- PG:
-
Prostaglandin
- ROS:
-
Reactive oxygen species
- TCA:
-
Trichloroacetic acid
- UC:
-
Ulcerative colitis
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Chemical, Biological and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA/Unicamp) for the infrastructure.
Funding
This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES: PROEX Grant #1391232), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Grant #429463/2018-9), the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP #2011/01114-4, #2014/23950-7) and the Fund for Support to Teaching, Research and Outreach Activities of the University of Campinas (FAEPEX/Unicamp, Grant #2001/19). The authors A.L.T.G.R., J.E.C., and M.A.F. thanks CNPq for the fellowship.
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Study conception and design: ALTGR, LEOB. Acquisition of data: LEOB, GGdS, ECSdO, KMM, IMOS, MPJ, TCS. Analysis and interpretation of data: LEOB, GGdS, ECSdO, IMOS, MAF. Drafting of manuscript: ALTGR, LEOB. Critical revision: ALTGR, MAF, ECSdO. Supervision and research resources supply: ALTGR, MAF. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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All in vivo experimental protocols were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of University of Campinas (CEUA/UNICAMP) (Protocols Number 3558-1; 3560-1, 3562-1, and 3563-1, approval in October 16th 2014; 3926-1, 3929-1, 3930-1, and 3931-1, approval in September 9th 2015; 4472-1(B)/2018 approval in February 7th 2018).
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de Oliveira Braga, L.E., da Silva, G.G., de Oliveira Sousa, I.M. et al. Gastrointestinal effects of Mentha aquatica L. essential oil. Inflammopharmacol 30, 2127–2137 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-022-00989-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-022-00989-x