Minthostachys verticillata Griseb (Epling.) (Lamiaceae) essential oil orally administered modulates gastrointestinal immunological and oxidative parameters in mice

MONTIRONI, IVANA D.; CAMPRA, NOELIA A.; ARSAUTE, SOFÍA; CECCHINI, MARÍA EUGENIA; RAVIOLO, JOSÉ M.; VANDEN BRABER, NOELIA; BARRIOS, BIBIANA; MONTENEGRO, MARIANA; CORREA, SILVIA; GROSSO, MARÍA C.; MAÑAS, FERNANDO; BELLINGERI, ROMINA V.; CARIDDI, LAURA NOELIA

JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2022 vol. 290

0378-8741

medicine for digestive or respiratory disorders. In addition, it is incorporated as condiment, in foods, as beverageflavoring or mate. The ethnopharmacological interest of M. verticillata resides in its essential oil (EO). Part ofgroup has demonstrated the immunomodulatory ability of EO giving this oil a biological potential not knownuntil that moment and conducted studies to evaluate their possible application in diseases of veterinary interest.However, the immunomodulatory effects of EO administered orally have not been fully characterized.Aim of the study: This study evaluated the impact of EO oral administration on gastrointestinal and immunehealth through measurement of immunological and oxidative parameters in mice.Material and methods: The EO was extracted from the leaves, slender stems and flowers of M. verticillata byhydrodistillation and chemical analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Prior to in vivostudy, the cytotoxic effect of EO was determined using the human colon carcinoma Caco-2 cell line. For in vivostudy, three groups of male Balb/c mice (n = 3) were orally administered with saline solution (control group)and EO (5 or 10 mg/kg/day) during 10 consecutive days. Subsequently, histological and hematological parameters,cytokines production, oxidative markers and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were evaluated.Results: The chemical analysis of EO revealed the presence of a high content of monoterpenes, being the mainpulegone (76.12%) and menthone (14.28%). The EO oral administration improved mice growth performanceand modulated systemic adaptive immune response by increasing in the total leukocyte number. A high percentageof CD4+ T cells were observed whereas the number of CD8+ T cells was not altered. EO did not alter themorpho-physiology of intestine and improved total antioxidant capacity by decreasing MDA concentrations. Inaddition, EO decreased the IL-6 levels and increased in the IL-4 and IL-10 concentrations.