RESUMEN
This study evaluated the gastroprotective potential of methanolic extract from fruits of Campomanesia reitziana (MECR) and its isolated chalcone dimethyl cardamonin (DMC). The phenolic compound in the extract, and the free radical scavenging activity of MECR and DMC, were quantified. The gastroprotective activity of MECR (30-300 mg/kg, p.o) and DMC (1 and 3 mg/kg, p.o) was determined by ethanol/HCl-induced gastric ulcers in mice. Histological, histochemical, and biochemical analyses were performed in the ulcerated tissue. MECR showed a high content of phenolic compounds, including DMC, and was able to scavenge DPPH radicals by 29.58% at 1000 µg/mL. However, DCM (1-1000 µg/mL) did not reduce DPPH radicals. Pre-treatment with MECR at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg reduced the gastric lesions by 35.07 and 79.47%, respectively (ulcerated-vehicle group 10.72 ± 0.88 mm2). Moreover, the extract increased the mucin content by 1044.44% and superoxide dismutase activity by 20.04%, and decreased the lipoperoxide levels by 39.39%, compared to the ulcerated-vehicle group (0.27 ± 0.04 pixels × 103/field; 57.37 ± 1.59 U SOD/mg of protein and 29.57 ± 2.99 mmol LOOH/mg of tissue, respectively). However, MECR did not prevent the depletion of reduced glutathione or the decrease in catalase activity. Pre-treatment with DMC, at 1 and 3 mg/kg, also reduced the gastric ulcers by 53.83 and 52.64%, respectively. In summary, these findings confirm the gastroprotective activity of MECR and DMC, and open an interesting field concerning the gastroprotective potential of dimethyl cardamonin, given its potent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity already described.