Effects of the Mint Monoterpene (R)‑(+)‑Pulegone Evaluated by Functional Observational Battery: A Potential Short Method

esica P. Zaio; Marco M. Mazzotta; Agripina Ramírez Sánchez; Elisa Alejandrina Gomez; María Paula Zunino; Andrés Alberto Ponce

Effects of the Mint Monoterpene (R)‑(+)‑Pulegone Evaluated by Functional Observational Battery: A Potential Short Method

Articles

Abstract

Pharmacognosy Research,2019,11,1,31-36.

DOI:10.4103/pr.pr_115_18

Published:February,2019

Type:Original Article

Authors:

Author(s) affiliations:

Yesica P Zaio¹, Marco M Mazzotta², Agripina Ramírez Sánchez³, Elisa Alejandrina Gomez³, María Paula Zunino⁴, Andrés Alberto Ponce⁵

¹Chair of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences,; Chair of Organic Chemistry and Natural Products (IMBIV-CONICET), Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.

²Chair of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Argentina.

³Biotechnology Applied to the Environment and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Dominican Republic.

⁴Chair of Organic Chemistry and Natural Products (IMBIV-CONICET), Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.

⁵Chair of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba; Chair of Human Physiology, Academic Dept. of Health Sciences and Education, National University of La Rioja, La Rioja, Argentina.

Abstract:

Background: Pulegone (PUL) is one of the major constituents of peppermint and pennyroyal. Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the early effects of toxicity of PUL. Materials and Methods: We assessed single doses of toxicity of PUL (2, 0.3 and 0.05 g/kg body weight), administrated by gavage in C57BL/6 mice, evaluated at 1, 6, and 24 hr, their clinical status and behavioral, by functional observational battery (FOB), ambulatory conditions, sperm motility, pathological signs, and organ/body weight (O/Bw). Results: No mortality was registered in this in vivo study of oral acute toxicity, in which histological changes were found in selected organs, and PUL mainly showed that the highest concentration reduced mice locomotor activity with significant differences when compared with data of the FOB. Sperm motility also diminished, and hepatic as well as renal alterations were found without modifications in clinical status and O/Bw. Conclusion: We concluded that PUL could be responsible for these findings and consider that FOB is a useful tool to detect early signs of modifications of physiological and biological parameters in mice.