Gastroprotective effect of the essential oil of Myrcia loranthifolia (Myrtaceae) on acute ethanol-induced gastric lesions in mice and possible mechanisms of action

Abstract In this work, we investigated the chemical composition and gastroprotective potential of the essential oil from leaves of Myrcia loranthifolia collected in Atlantic Forest and Seasonally Dry Forest in Brazil (= Caatinga). The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized GC–MS. Gastroprotection was evaluated in an absolute ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in mice. To elucidate the gastroprotective mechanisms, the roles of prostaglandins, KATP channels, and calcium channels were investigated. The essential oil extracted from the leaves of M. loranthifolia, collected in the Atlantic Forest, was found to contain (E)–caryophyllene (47.54%), α–humulene (9.22%), and germacrene D (8.94%) as the primary constituents. In turn, the oil from samples of the Caatinga presented (E)–caryophyllene (17.68%), trans–calamenene (12.44%), germacrene D (10.38%), α–humulene (10.19%), and bicyclogermacrene (9.11%) as predominant constituents. M. loranthifolia essential oil at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the severity of gastric lesions, but differences were found in the gastroprotective potential according to the geographical origin of the oil. Our findings suggest that the essential oil extracted from M. loranthifolia leaves may offer partial protection to the gastric mucosa through the activation of prostaglandins.