RESUMO
CONTEXT: Essential oils from Pinus species have been reported to have various therapeutic properties. OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to identify the chemical composition and cytoprotective effects of the essential oil of Pinus halepensis L. against aspirin-induced damage in cells in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cytoprotection of the oil against toxicity of aspirin on the small intestine epithelial cells IEC-6 was tested. RESULTS: The obtained results have shown that 35 different compounds were identified. Aspirin induced a decrease in cell viability, and exhibited significant damage to their morphology and an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. However, the co-treatment of aspirin with the essential oil of Pinus induced a significant increase in cell viability and a decrease in SOD and CAT activities. CONCLUSION: Overall, these finding suggest that the essential oil of Pinus halepensis L. has potent cytoprotective effect against aspirin-induced toxicity in IEC-6 cells.
