(-)-α-Bisabolol-induced gastroprotection is associated with reduction in lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase activity and neutrophil migration

This work examined the gastroprotection of (-)-alpha-bisabolol, an unsaturated optically active sesquiterpene alcohol obtained by the direct distillation essential oil from plants. (-)-alpha-Bisabolol has been described as a compound capable of reducing the gastric ulcer area in response to absolute ethanol. We evaluated the gastroprotection of (-)-alpha-bisabolol in ethanol-induced gastric lesions model through histopathological assessment, measurement of the membrane lipids peroxidation (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity and the nitrite amount. Our results showed that (-)-alpha-bisabolol was able to reduce injuries associated with the administration of ethanol and the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (MDA) was also able to increase SOD activity and reduce the influx of cells inflammatory (neutrophils) in the gastric mucosa. The effect of (-)-alpha-bisabolol seems to be unrelated to the nitric oxide. (-)-alpha-Bisabolol caused a reduction of catalase activity. These findings show that (-)-alpha-bisabolol is able to decrease oxidative stress and inflammatory event associated with the lesions induced by ethanol. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.