Gastroprotective effect of essential oil from Croton cajucara Benth. (Euphorbiaceae)

The gastroprotective activity of the essential oil from the bark of Croton cajucara Benth (Euphorbiaceae) was assessed in three different models of ex perimentally induced gastric ulcer in mice. At oral dose of 100 mg/kg the e ssential oil reduced gastric lesions induced by hypothermic restraint stres s and HCl/ethanol significantly. In the HCl/ethanol model a dose-dependent gastroprotective effect was found. Moreover, significant changes in gastric parameters such as pH, secretion rate and total gastric acid were found af ter intraduodenal administration of essential oil under ligated pylorus (Sh ay) conditions. The acute toxicity of essential oil was assessed in mice. T he LD50 values were 9.3 and 680 mg/kg for oral and intraperitoneal administ rations, respectively. The cytotoxicity of essential oil was studied also. A dose-dependent cell viability inhibition was found in V79 fibroblast cell cultures with an IC50 of 22.9 mu g/ml. Our results support the pharmacolog ical study of this essential oil. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ir eland Ltd. All rights reserved.