Beneficial role of Pistacia lentiscus aqueous extract in experimental colitis: anti-inflammatory and potential therapeutic effects

Marine polysaccharides hydrogel with encapsulated mesalazine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis: Integrative effects on inflammation, microbiota, and mucosal repair

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic non-specific inflammatory disease of the intestine that significantly impacts patient quality of life. This study introduces a OF/CC/SM hydrogel containing oxidized fucoidan (OF), carboxymethyl chitosan (CC), and silk sericin-stabilized mesalazine (SM), designed for rectal administration to target mesalazine delivery specifically to the colon. The OF/CC/SM hydrogel demonstrated good biocompatibility (cell compatibility > 99 %), injectability, and adhesion strength, ensuring effective mesalazine retention and release. In vitro assays confirmed the hydrogel's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which were further validated in vivo using a mouse model of ulcerative colitis. Rectal administration of OF/CC/SM hydrogel significantly relieved weight loss, lowered disease activity index scores, and prevented intestinal shortening associated with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) treatment. The hydrogel decreased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)), while normalized the level of biomarkers (e.g., inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA)). Additionally, the OF/CC/SM hydrogel modulated the gut microbiota, increasing beneficial bacteria while decreasing potentially harmful species. Histopathological analysis revealed a reduction in inflammatory infiltration and improved mucosal architecture. Additionally, in vivo imaging studies confirmed sustained presence of OF/CC/SM hydrogel in the intestines following rectal administration, highlighting its potential for enhanced therapeutic efficacy in treating ulcerative colitis.

Chemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activities of Resin Fractions from Pistacia lentiscus L. var. Chia in Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells

Chios mastiha is the natural aromatic resin of Pistacia lentiscus L. var. Chia, Anacardiaceae, which is exclusively cultivated in the southern part of the Greek island of Chios. Chios mastiha (P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha) is well-known for its distinctive taste and aroma and has been known since ancient times due to its healing properties in gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders and because of its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. In this study, the chemical composition, applying LC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis, and the antioxidant activities of three different polarity P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha fractions, apolar, medium polar, and polar, were characterized in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Chemical analysis of the fractions unveiled new components of P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha, mainly fatty acids compounds, known for their antioxidant activity and regulatory effects on lipid metabolism. By applying the MTT assay and confocal microscopy analysis, we showed that P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha fractions, especially the apolar and medium polar fractions, enriched in triterpenes and fatty acids, caused suppression of the H2O2-induced reduction in cell viability, ROS production, and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, Western blot analysis revealed that apolar fraction, enriched in fatty acids, induced expression of the PPARα, which is well-known for its antioxidant activities and its crucial role in lipid metabolism. Induction of PPARα, a GR target gene, was also accompanied by an increase in GR protein levels. Enhanced antioxidant activities of the apolar fraction may be correlated with its chemical composition, enriched in fatty acids and triterpenoids. Thus, our results indicate the neuroprotective actions of P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha fractions, highlighting their potential application as neuroprotective agents in neurodegenerative diseases.

Huanglian Ganjiang Decoction alleviates DSS-induced colitis through suppressing inflammation and protecting intestinal barrier: From the perspective of disassembling prescriptions

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huanglian Ganjiang decoction (HGD), which is composed of Chinese medicines with cold, warm, and astringent properties, has demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, highlighting the need for a multi-faceted investigation. Disassembling prescriptions is a crucial approach for investigating compatibility mechanisms. Analyzing the interactions among Chinese herbs through this method can refine treatment focus and provide novel insights into TCM prescription compatibility research. Therefore, HGD was disassembled into three groups: Cold Medicine Removed (C-R), which warm medicine and astringent medicine are combined; Warm Medicine Removed (W-R), which cold medicine and astringent medicine are combined; and Astringent Medicine Removed (A-R), which cold medicine and warm medicine are combined.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the therapeutic effects of HGD and its three disassembled prescriptions against UC and to uncover their compatibility mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical composition of HGD and its disassembled prescriptions (HGDADPs) was qualitatively analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was used to induce a UC mouse model. The efficacy in treating UC was evaluated by body weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, spleen index, thymus index, and histopathological score. A compound-UC target network was established utilizing the network pharmacology. The underlying mechanisms were then investigated by assessing intestinal barrier function and inflammatory responses, as well as the APOC1/P38 MAPK and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways through qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Subsequently, anisomycin, a P38 MAPK agonist, was used to confirm whether C-R protects the gut barrier via the APOC1/P38 MAPK pathway. Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), a TLR4 agonist, was employed to investigate whether W-R mediates its anti-inflammatory effects via the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

RESULTS

HGDADPs improved colitis symptoms, increasing ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, and E-cadherin levels while reducing blood cell counts and IL-6 and IL-1β levels. HGD was the most effective in reducing inflammation and repairing the intestinal barrier, with A-R showing similar effects. C-R excelled in repairing the barrier, while W-R was better at reducing inflammation. Network pharmacology indicated C-R inhibits the APOC1/P38 MAPK pathway, and W-R suppresses the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, aligning with Western blotting results. ANI and MPLA reversed the effects of C-R and W-R, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The mechanism by which HGDADPs treat colitis is demonstrated for the first time in our study. In HGD, cold medicine serves as the "Jun", primarily exerting anti-inflammatory effects; Warm medicine acts as the "Chen", mainly protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier; And astringent medicine functions as the "Zuo", playing a synergistic role in the treatment of colitis. In addition, the combination of cold and warm medicines (A-R) was the most crucial for HGD' s compatibility. The pairing of warm and astringent medicines (C-R) significantly contributed to the restoration of the gut barrier and the inhibition of the APOC1/P38 MAPK signaling pathway. Meanwhile, the combination of cold and astringent medicines (W-R) primarily contributed to alleviating inflammation and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Bifidobacterium longum NSP001-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorate ulcerative colitis by modulating T cell responses in gut microbiota-(in)dependent manners

Recent studies have shown that intestinal commensal bacteria-derived vesicles may have potential effects in alleviating ulcerative colitis (UC). Although Bifidobacterium longum is widely used to prevent colitis, the potential role of B. longum-derived extracellular vesicles has yet to be explored. Here, we extracted B. longum NSP001-derived extracellular vesicles (NEVs) and investigated the regulatory roles of NEVs in colitis. Our results demonstrated that NEVs alleviate UC by improving intestinal barrier, modulating immune cell differentiation, and promoting the production of SCFAs. NEVs' improvement of inflammation in pseudo-germ-free mice implies that the anti-inflammatory effect of NEVs does not exclusively depend on the regulation of gut microbiota. In conclusion, we suggest that B. longum NSP001 improves UC through the secretion of NEVs. In addition, the study emphasizes the critical role of NEVs in maintaining host immune homeostasis via suppressing STAT3 pathway, thereby highlighting their potential as a novel postbiotic to alleviate UC.

Effects of Pistacia genus on gastrointestinal tract disorders: A systematic and comprehensive review

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders characterized by persistent and recurrence gastrointestinal symptoms are prevalent. The genus Pistacia is widely emphasized as the relief of gastrointestinal diseases in traditional medicine. This review aimed to investigate the latest evidence on the effect of the Pistacia genus on GI tract disorders. The systematic search was performed following to PRISMA guidelines. The databases PubMed and Scopus were searched from 1980 to 2022 with restrictions to the original studies. Electronic databases were searched in title/abstract, using the keywords relevant to GI tract disorders. Forty-eight studies were included in this review following the inclusion criteria. Fifteen and 22 studies were clinical and animal studies, respectively, of which 6 clinical and 13 animal studies were on Inflammatory Bowel diseases. Seven clinical studies were on functional GI disorders. The most pieces of evidence from animal and clinical studies were on the intestinal inflammation and peptic ulcer affecting the inflammation as well as oxidative stress through different mechanistic pathways. The most referred active phytochemicals seem to be terpenoid compounds. Various in vitro studies have also shown the inhibitory activity of the different plant parts of Pistacia herbs on several GI tract cancer cells. Available scientific evidence supports the effects of various components of Pistacia genus plants in the field of GI tract diseases, especially digestive inflammations. Further studies are required to systematically evaluate the natural products of the genus Pistacia, particularly in the context of digestive disorders.

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of digestive inflammatory cancer transformation: Portulaca oleracea L. as a promising drug

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries to treat various types of inflammation and tumors of the digestive system. Portulaca oleracea L. (POL), has been used in TCM for thousands of years. The chemical composition of POL is variable and includes flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and organic acids and other classes of natural compounds. Many of these compounds exhibit powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer-transforming effects in the digestive system.

AIM OF STUDY

In this review, we focus on the potential therapeutic role of POL in NASH, gastritis and colitis and their associated cancers, with a focus on the pharmacological properties and potential mechanisms of action of the main natural active compounds in POL.

METHODS

The information and data on Portulaca oleracea L. and its main active ingredients were collated from various resources like ethnobotanical textbooks and literature databases such as CNKI, VIP (Chinese literature), PubMed, Science Direct, Elsevier and Google Scholar (English literatures), Wiley, Springer, Tailor and Francis, Scopus, Inflibnet.

RESULTS

Kaempferol, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, genistein, EPA, DHA, and melatonin were found to improve NASH and NASH-HCC, while kaempferol, apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin played a therapeutic role in gastritis and gastric cancer. Apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, genistein, lupeol, vitamin C and melatonin were found to have therapeutic effects in the treatment of colitis and its associated cancers. The discovery of the beneficial effects of these natural active compounds in POL supports the idea that POL could be a promising novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of inflammation-related cancers of the digestive system.

CONCLUSION

The discovery of the beneficial effects of these natural active compounds in POL supports the idea that POL could be a promising novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of inflammation-related cancers of the digestive system. However, clinical data describing the mode of action of the naturally active compounds of POL are still lacking. In addition, pharmacokinetic data for POL compounds, such as changes in drug dose and absorption rates, cannot be extrapolated from animal models and need to be measured in patients in clinical trials. On the one hand, a systematic meta-analysis of the existing publications on TCM containing POL still needs to be carried out. On the other hand, studies on the hepatic and renal toxicity of POL are also needed. Additionally, well-designed preclinical and clinical studies to validate the therapeutic effects of TCM need to be performed, thus hopefully providing a basis for the validation of the clinical benefits of POL.

Chios Mastic Gum: Chemical Profile and Pharmacological Properties in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: From the Past to the Future

Chios mastic gum, the product of the tree Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia, has been used for more than 2500 years in traditional Greek medicine for treating several diseases, thanks to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of its components. Despite the long-time use of mastic in gastroenterology and in particular in chronic-inflammation-associated diseases, to date, the literature lacks reviews regarding this topic. The aim of the present work is to summarize available data on the effects of P. lentiscus on inflammatory bowel disease. A comprehensive review of this topic could drive researchers to conduct future studies aimed at deeply investigating P. lentiscus effects and hypothesizing a mechanism of action. The present review, indeed, schematizes the possible bioactive components of mastic gum. Particular care is given to P. lentiscus var. Chia medicaments' and supplements' chemical compositions and their pharmacological action in inflammatory bowel disease.

Morinda umbellata active fraction inhibits lipopolysaccharide induced proinflammatory cytokines by downregulating NF-κB activation

Morinda umbellata L. is a woody climber or liana distributed in south East Asia. It is a traditional medicinal plant with excellent curative effects against diarrhea, dysentery, and other stomach disorders. The present study was aimed to assess the effect of M. umbellata active fraction (MUAF) on various inflammatory mediators using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced in vivo model in Wistar rats. The effect of MUAF on secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were evaluated in LPS-induced experimental animals. The expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2, and nuclear factor NF-κB genes were also evaluated. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the active fraction was carried out to identify the active compounds present in MUAF. The results of oral acute toxicity suggested the non-toxic nature of MUAF. GC-MS analysis of the MUAF leaves revealed the presence of 8 compounds. The study demonstrated that the proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly inhibited by MUAF in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, MUAF down-regulated the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2, and NF-κB genes. Our research findings suggest that the presence of anti-inflammatory compounds in MUAF can effectively inhibit LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-β, and IL-6 in vivo. It also suppressed the over expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 possibly via downregulating NF-κB activation.

Anti-inflammatory effects of the Aralia elata and Cirsium japonicum in Raw264.7 cells and in vivo colitis model in mice and dogs

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a severe inflammatory disease that has spread throughout the world. Cirsium japonicum (CJ) and Aralia elata (AE) are natural herbs with potent antioxidative antidiabetics and anti-inflammatory effects. In this investigation, we studied the defensive role of the combination of CJ and AE against LPS-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, and acetic acid-induced colitis in dogs. MTT assay was performed to identify the toxic effect of CJ and AE extracts. NO, and MDA level was also measured by NO and MDA assay. To measure the pro-inflammatory protein expression, a western blot was performed. To induce colitis, 3% DSS was used for mice and 6% acetic acid was used for dogs. Histopathology and colonoscopy were executed to detect the effect of extracts. CJ and AE pretreatment reduced the level of NO, MDA, and the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in RAW 264.7. Compared to the separate doses of CJ and AE, the combined dose of CJ and AE significantly reduced clinical symptoms induced by DSS in mice and acetic acid in dogs including weight loss, bloody stool, shortening of the colon, and the severity of colitis and degree of histological damage in the colon. Therefore, these results indicated that a combined dose of CJ and AE has a protective effect against LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, DSS-mediated colonic inflammation in mice, and acetic acid-induced colitis in dogs.

The ameliorative impacts of wheat germ oil against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers: involvement of anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antioxidant activities

This study examined if wheat germ oil (WGO) has gastroprotective impacts against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Rats were assigned into control, WGO, ethanol, omeprazole + ethanol, and WGO + ethanol. WGO prevented gastric ulceration and damage induced by ethanol, the same effect induced by omeprazole, a widely known medication used for gastric ulcer treatment. WGO reduced gastric ulcer index, nitric oxide, and malondialdehyde levels in the stomach. WGO boosted the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Bcl2, and the antioxidants. WGO showed inflammatory and anti-inflammatory impacts through the control of interleukin (IL)-1β, Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-10 that were altered in ethanol-administered rats. Ethanol up-regulated caspase-3 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) expression and showed histopathological changes such as necrosis and mucosal degeneration that were mitigated by pre-administration of WGO. Moreover, WGO decreased gastric immunoreactivity of NF-kB and increased transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) that were associated with upregulation of Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and antioxidant expression and production. In conclusion, WGO reduced ethanol-induced stomach toxicity by regulating genes involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic/antiapoptotic pathways.