RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Gastric ulcer has been a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and it has been linked to factors such as nutritional deficiency, smoking, stress, and continuous intake of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The search for new anti-ulcer therapeutic agents has been the subject of several studies. Recently, the gastroprotective effect of Celtis iguanaea has been reported, with linoleic acid (LA) responsible for many of the therapeutic effects of this medicinal plant. AIMS: This study aims to investigate the gastroprotective activity and the possible mechanisms in which LA may be involved through different experimental assays in mice. METHODS: The gastroprotective activity of LA was evaluated in the ulcer induced by indomethacin, HCl/EtOH, hypothermic-restraint stress and pyloric ligation. For the investigation of gastroprotective mechanisms, the quantification of the volume (mL), pH and total acidity of gastric secretion were considered. RESULTS: The oral administrations of 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg of body weight of LA were capable of protecting the gastric mucosa against HCl/ethanol (10 mL/kg p.o.), and oral/intraduodenal treatment administrations of 50 mg/kg LA showed protection from ulcers induced by indomethacin, hypothermic-restraint stress and pyloric ligation. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show the gastroprotective role of LA in gastric mucosal damage induced by all assayed distresses. The observed gastroprotection possibly occurs due to the mediated increase of mucosal defensive factors.