Planta Med 1996; 62(5): 469-470
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957942
Letter

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Gastric Cytoprotection of the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Sesquiterpene, β-Caryophyllene

Yukihiro Tambe1 , Hitomi Tsujiuchi1 , Gisho Honda1 , Yasumasa Ikeshiro2 , Shigeo Tanaka1
  • 1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Niigata College of Pharmacy, 5-13-2 Kamishinei-cho, Niigata 950-21, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

1995

1996

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

The gastric cytoprotective effect of β-caryophyllene (1), an anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene, was investigated in rats. The oral administration of β-caryophyllene to rats significantly inhibited gastric mucosal injuries induced by necrotizing agents such as absolute ethanol and 0.6 N HCl, although it failed to prevent water immersion stress- and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions. In addition, this compound hardly affected the secretion of gastric acid and pepsin. Thus, β-caryophyllene elicited anti-inflammatory effects without any indication of gastric mucosal damage typical of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Furthermore, this compound manifested cytoprotective effects, rendering the two-dimensional efficacious β-caryophyllene to be a clinically safe and potentially useful agent.