Minthostachys verticillata Griseb (Epling.) (Lamiaceae) essential oil orally administered modulates gastrointestinal...

Minthostachys verticillata (Griseb.) Epling (Lamiaceae) is a plant used in folk medicine for digestive or respiratory disorders. In addition, it is incorporated as condiment, in foods, as beverage flavoring or mate. The ethnopharmacological interest of M. verticillata resides in its essential oil (EO). Part of group has demonstrated the immunomodulatory ability of EO giving this oil a biological potential not known until 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.

This study evaluated the impact of EO oral administration on gastrointestinal and immune health through measurement of immunological and oxidative parameters in mice.

The EO was extracted from the leaves, slender stems and flowers of M. verticillata by hydrodistillation and chemical analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Prior to in vivo study, the cytotoxic effect of EO was determined using the human colon carcinoma Caco-2 cell line. For in vivo study, 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.

The chemical analysis of EO revealed the presence of a high content of monoterpenes, being the main pulegone (76.12%) and menthone (14.28%). The EO oral administration improved mice growth performance and modulated systemic adaptive immune response by increasing in the total leukocyte number. A high percentage of CD4⁺ T cells were observed whereas the number of CD8⁺ T cells was not altered. EO did not alter the morpho-physiology of intestine and improved total antioxidant capacity by decreasing MDA concentrations. In addition, EO decreased the IL-6 levels and increased in the IL-4 and IL-10 concentrations.

Results indicate that M. verticillata EO modulate inflammatory and oxidative parameters constituting a natural alternative which could be applied to improve gastrointestinal and immune functionality in animals.