Ethanolic extract from Lepidium virginicum L. ameliorates DNBS-induced colitis in rats

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.

New Insights into the Mechanism of Ulva pertusa on Colitis in Mice: Modulation of the Pain and Immune System

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) involving Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in which abdominal pain, discomfort, and diarrhea are the major symptoms. The immune system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of IBD and, as indicated by several clinical studies, both innate and adaptative immune response has the faculty to induce gut inflammation in UC patients. An inappropriate mucosal immune response to normal intestinal constituents is a main feature of UC, thus leading to an imbalance in local pro- and anti-inflammatory species. Ulva pertusa, a marine green alga, is known for its important biological properties, which could represent a source of beneficial effects in various human pathologies. We have already demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic effects of an Ulva pertusa extract in a murine model of colitis. In this study, we aimed to examine thoroughly Ulva pertusa immunomodulatory and pain-relieving properties. Colitis was induced by using the DNBS model (4 mg in 100 μL of 50% ethanol), whereas Ulva pertusa was administered daily at the dosage of 50 and 100 mg/kg by oral gavage. Ulva pertusa treatments have been shown to relieve abdominal pain while modulating innate and adaptative immune-inflammatory responses. This powerful immunomodulatory activity was specifically linked with TLR4 and NLRP3 inflammasome modulation. In conclusion, our data suggest Ulva pertusa as a valid approach to counteract immune dysregulation and abdominal discomfort in IBD.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Brassicaceae-Derived Phytochemicals: In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence for a Putative Role in the Prevention and Treatment of IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of intestinal disorders, of unknown etiology, characterized by chronic inflammation within the gut. They are gradually becoming critical because of the increasing incidence worldwide and improved diagnosis. Due to the important side effects observed during conventional therapy, natural bioactive components are now under intense investigation for the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses. The Brassicaceae family comprises vegetables widely consumed all over the world. In recent decades, a growing body of literature has reported that extracts from the Brassicaceae family and their purified constituents have anti-inflammatory properties, which has generated interest from both the scientific community and clinicians. In this review, data from the literature are scrutinized and concisely presented demonstrating that Brassicaceae may have anti-IBD potential. The excellent biological activities of Brassicacea are widely attributable to their ability to regulate the levels of inflammatory and oxidant mediators, as well as their capacity for immunomodulatory regulation, maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity and intestinal flora balance. Possible future applications of bioactive-derived compounds from Brassicaceae for promoting intestinal health should be investigated.