Gastroprotective activity of methanol extract and marrubiin obtained from leaves of Marrubium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae)

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the gastroprotective properties of the methanol extract and the diterpene marrubiin obtained from the leaves of M. vulgare. Methods Assays were performed using different protocols in mice. Studies focusing on mechanisms of gastroprotection were also undertaken. Key findings In the model of ethanol‐induced ulcers, we observed a significant reduction in all the parameters analysed; the curative ratios obtained were 49.31 ± 0.57, 74.31 ± 0.91 and 79.86 ± 0.59 for the groups treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg of extract of M. vulgare and omeprazole (30 mg/kg), respectively. For indomethacin‐induced ulcers, the percentages of ulcer inhibition were 50.32 ± 5.60, 66.24 ± 4.30, 82.17 ± 04.09 and 67.52 ± 4.38, for the groups treated with 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg M. vulgare and positive control (cimetidine), respectively. In both models, the marrubiin (25 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction in all the parameters when compared with the control group (P