Vitamin E protects against stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats more effectively than vitamin C

A Nutraceutical Formula Is Effective in Raising the Circulating Vitamin and Mineral Levels in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Trial

Low levels of nutrient intake are common in industrialized countries. This has negative implications on health and is associated with chronic diseases. Supplementation of vitamins, minerals, and key nutrients to optimal levels may, therefore, be beneficial for individual health and for the health economy. Although the use of supplements has become very common, due to a lack of monitoring, there is very limited data on the efficacy of supplementation with different formulas. In this study, we present the results of a randomized controlled study on the efficacy of a novel formulated nutraceutical, N247, in 250 healthy volunteers aged 26-75 years and a placebo control group (n = 35). The broad-spectrum formulation of N247 includes essential vitamins, minerals, and trace elements that are adequately balanced in regard to synergies and related metabolic functions. Moreover, tolerance, safety, and nutrient availability is an important aspect of daily, long-term use of N247. After 3 months of regular N247 use, levels of vitamins and minerals in serum were significantly increased in the N247 group compared with the control group and a placebo group, with excellent compliance rates. Coupled with additional natural ingredients that aim to increase the potency of the nutrients, N247 may represent a novel and beneficial supplement for individuals with nutritional deficiencies. Clinical Trial Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier: NCT04054505.

Rosmarinic acid prevents gastric ulcers via sulfhydryl groups reinforcement, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a secondary metabolite present in several plant species that has already demonstrated antioxidant, antiallergic, anticancer, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects experimentally. Due to the promising pharmacological properties found previously, this study aimed to assess the oral acute toxicity and the gastroprotective effect of RA using animal models. Acute toxicity was assessed according to OECD guide 423. Ethanol, stress, NSAIDs, and pylorus ligature-induced gastric ulcer models were used to investigate antiulcer properties. The related mechanisms of action were also evaluated from ethanol-induced gastric lesions protocol. RA (300 and 2000 mg/kg) showed no changes in behavioral, water and food intake, body and organs weight parameters with LD50 set around 2500 mg/kg. RA presented gastroprotective activity in all assessed doses (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) using different animal models. Besides, it was observed that this effect is not related to the modulation of gastric juice parameters (pH, volume, and [H+]), the participation of nitric oxide, mucus, and prostaglandins. However, increased sulfhydryl groups, GSH and IL-10 levels as well as reduced of proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-1β) levels were found for RA-treated groups. RA presents low acute toxicity and gastroprotective activity, preventing ulcer formation via cytoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Graphical abstract.

Protective Effect of Repeatedly Preadministered Brazilian Propolis Ethanol Extract against Stress-Induced Gastric Mucosal Lesions in Rats

The present study was conducted to clarify the protective effect of Brazilian propolis ethanol extract (BPEE) against stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats. The protective effect of BPEE against gastric mucosal lesions in male Wistar rats exposed to water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS) for 6 h was compared between its repeated preadministration (50 mg/kg/day, 7 days) and its single preadministration (50 mg/kg). The repeated BPEE preadministration attenuated WIRS-induced gastric mucosal lesions and gastric mucosal oxidative stress more largely than the single BPEE preadministration. In addition, the repeated BPEE preadministration attenuated neutrophil infiltration in the gastric mucosa of rats exposed to WIRS. The protective effect of the repeated preadministration of BPEE against WIRS-induced gastric mucosal lesions was similar to that of a single preadministration of vitamin E (250 mg/kg) in terms of the extent and manner of protection. From these findings, it is concluded that BPEE preadministered in a repeated manner protects against gastric mucosal lesions in rats exposed to WIRS more effectively than BPEE preadministered in a single manner possibly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica var. saboten) protects against stress-induced acute gastric lesions in rats

The protective activity of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica var. saboten) fruit juice and its main constituent, betanin, were evaluated against stress-induced acute gastric lesions in rats. After 6 h of water immersion restraint stress (WIRS), gastric mucosal lesions with bleeding were induced in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pretreatment of a lyophilized powder containing O. ficus indica var. saboten fruit juice and maltodextrin (OFSM) and betanin significantly reduced stress lesions (800-1600 mg/kg). Both OFSM and betanin effectively prevented the decrease in gastric mucus content as detected by alcian blue staining. In addition, OFSM significantly suppressed WIRS-induced increases in the level of gastric mucosal tumor necrosis factor-α and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Betanin alone was only effective in decreasing MPO. These results revealed the protective activity of OFSM against stress-induced acute gastric lesions and that betanin may contribute to OFSM's gastric protective activity, at least in part. When OFSM and betanin were taken together, OFSM exerted gastroprotective activity against stress-induced gastric lesions by maintaining gastric mucus, which might be related to the attenuation of MPO-mediated damage and proinflammatory cytokine production.

Disruption of non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems in the brain of rats with water-immersion restraint stress

We examined whether non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems are disrupted in the brain of rats with water-immersion restraint stress. When rats were exposed to water-immersion restraint stress for 1.5, 3 or 6 h, the brain had decreased ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione contents and increased lipid peroxide and nitric oxide metabolites contents at 3 h and showed further changes in these components with a reduction of vitamin E content at 6 h. Increased serum levels of stress markers were found at 1.5, 3 or 6 h of WIRS. Oral pre-administration of L-ascorbic acid (1.5 mmol/kg) or vitamin E (0.5 mmol/kg) to rats with 6 h of water-immersion restraint stress attenuated the increases in lipid peroxide and nitric oxide metabolites contents and the decrease in vitamin E content in the brain. Pre-administered L-ascorbic acid attenuated the decreases in brain ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione contents at 6 h of water-immersion restraint stress, while pre-administered vitamin E enhanced the decreases in those contents. Pre-administered L-ascorbic acid or vitamin E did not affect the increased serum levels of stress markers in rats with 6 h of water-immersion restraint stress. These results indicate that water-immersion restraint stress causes disruption of non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems through enhanced lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide generation in the brain of rats with water-immersion restraint stress.

A single exposure of rats to water-immersion restraint stress induces oxidative stress more severely in the thymus than in the spleen

OBJECTIVES

We examined whether a single exposure of rats to water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS) induces oxidative stress in the thymus and spleen.

METHODS

Vitamin E, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxide (LPO) were assayed in the thymus and spleen of rats with and without 6 hours of WIRS.

RESULTS

In unstressed rats, vitamin E, ascorbic acid, GSH, and LPO levels were higher in the thymus than in the spleen. Thymic ascorbic acid level was lower in stressed rats than in unstressed rats. Splenic ascorbic acid level was similar in both groups. Thymic and splenic GSH levels were lower in stressed rats than in unstressed rats but the reduced amount of GSH was lower in the spleen than in the thymus. Thymic vitamin E level was lower in stressed than in unstressed rats. Splenic vitamin E level was higher in stressed rats than in unstressed rats. Thymic and splenic LPO levels were higher in stressed rats than in unstressed rats but the increased amount of LPO was higher in the thymus than in the spleen.

CONCLUSION

It is indicated that a single expose of rats to WIRS induces oxidative stress more severely in the thymus than in the spleen.

Effects of grape seed extract, vitamin C, and vitamin e on ethanol- and aspirin-induced ulcers

Effects of GSE and vitamins C and E on aspirin- and ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and associated increases of lipid peroxidation in rats were compared. Two experiments were conducted. Rats were randomized into eight groups: a negative control and seven groups that received aspirin or ethanol for ulcer induction: one positive control (vehicle) and six with VC, VE, or GSE (25 and 250 mg/kg). Ulcer indexes and gastric levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were quantified. VC, VE, and GSE (25 and 250 mg/kg) decreased aspirin, and ethanol-induced ulcers and MDA values compared with positive control group. The magnitude of aspirin ulcer reduction was comparable for all treatments, and MDA decrease with GSE was higher than with VC and tended to be greater, albeit none significantly, than with VE. GSE was more effective than VC and VE for lowering the ethanol ulcers, while the decrease of MDA levels with GSE was greater than with VC, but comparable to that achieved with VE. GSE protected against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers more effectively than VC or VE, while its protection against aspirin ulcers was comparable for all treatments. GSE produced the greatest reductions of gastric MDA in both models.