Gastroprotective activity of polysaccharide from Hericium erinaceus against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesion and pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcer, and its antioxidant activities. Carbohydr Polym. 2018;186:100-109. [PMID: 29455967 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.01.004]

Untargeted serum and gastric metabolomics and network pharmacology analysis reveal the superior efficacy of zingiberis rhizoma recens-/euodiae fructus-processed Coptidis Rhizoma on gastric ulcer rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Zingiberis rhizoma recens-/wine-/euodiae fructus-processed Coptidis Rhizoma (CR, zCR/wCR/eCR) are the commonly used processed products of CR in clinic. After being processed with different excipients, the efficacy of CR will change accordingly. I.e., wCR could resolve excessive heat of the upper energizer, zCR could eliminate gastric heat and harmonize the stomach, eCR could smooth the liver and harmonize the stomach. However, the underlying mechanisms were still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To further verify the differential efficacy of the three processed CR products and compare the mechanisms on gastric ulcer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

First, a GU model, whose onset is closely related to the heat in stomach and the disharmony between liver and stomach, was established, and the therapeutic effects of zCR/wCR/eCR/CR were evaluated by pathologic observation and measurement of cytokine levels. Second, metabolomics analysis and network pharmacology were conducted to reveal the differential intervening mechanism of zCR/eCR on GU. Third, the predicted mechanisms from metabolomics analysis and network pharmacology were validated using western blotting, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

zCR/wCR/eCR/CR could alleviate the pathologic damage to varying degrees. In metabolomics research, fewer metabolic pathways were enriched in serum samples, and most of them were also present in the results of gastric tissue samples. The gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects of zCR/wCR/eCR/CR might be due to their interference on histidine, arachidonic acid, and glycerophospholipids metabolism. Quantitative results indicated that zCR/eCR had a better therapeutic effect than wCR/CR in treating GU. A comprehensive analysis of metabolomics and network pharmacology revealed that zCR and eCR exerted anti-GU effects via intervening in five core targets, including AKT, TNF, IL6, IL1B and PPARG. In the validation experiment, zCR/eCR could significantly reverse the abnormal expression of proteins related to apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, gastric function, as well as the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

zCR and eCR could offer gastroprotective benefits by resisting inflammation and apoptosis, inhibiting gastric-acid secretion, as well as strengthening gastric mucosal defense and antioxidant capacity. Integrating network pharmacology and metabolomics analysis could reveal the acting mechanism of drugs and promote the development of medications to counteract GU.

Gastroprotective effects of polysaccharides from purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) on an ethanol-induced gastric ulcer via regulating immunity and activating the PI3K/Akt/Rheb/mTOR pathway

The study aimed to investigate the alleviation of an ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice by apolysaccharide (PSP) from purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) and explore the mechanism. The anti-ulcer activity was determined by histopathological evaluation, total gastric acidity, pepsin activity, gastric ulcer index and gastric ulcer inhibition rate. The expression levels of inflammatory factors were detected using ELISA. A special protein meter was used to detect the content of immunoglobulin lgM, immunoglobulin lgG, and complements C3 and C4 in the serum of mice. The expression of CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte subsets of mice was detected using flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to examine the effect of PSP on the PI3K/Akt/Rheb/mTOR pathway. The results showed that PSP could effectively reduce the total gastric acidity, pepsin activity, and the index and inhibition rate of gastric ulcers. At the same time, PSP could significantly increase the levels of immunoglobulins (lgG and lgM) and complements (C3 and C4). It could also increase the activity of peritoneal macrophages in mice and the expression of CD4+/CD8+ in the spleen. ELISA analysis showed that the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased and the content of IL-10 was significantly increased in the PSP group. The western blot analysis showed that PSP could upregulate the relative protein expressions of MUC5AC, PI3K, p-Akt, Rheb and mTOR. These results indicate that PSP can activate the PI3K/Akt/Rheb/mTOR signaling pathway to improve the immunity of mice and maintain the balance of the immune system, thereby protecting the gastric mucosa and improving stress gastric ulcers.

(-)-Fenchone Prevents Cysteamine-Induced Duodenal Ulcers and Accelerates Healing Promoting Re-Epithelialization of Gastric Ulcers in Rats via Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Mechanisms

BACKGROUND

(-)-Fenchone is a naturally occurring monoterpene found in the essential oils of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Thuja occidentalis L., and Peumus boldus Molina. Pharmacological studies have reported its antinociceptive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and antioxidant activities.

METHODS

The preventive antiulcer effects of (-)-Fenchone were assessed through oral pretreatment in cysteamine-induced duodenal lesion models. Gastric healing, the underlying mechanisms, and toxicity after repeated doses were evaluated using the acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer rat model with oral treatment administered for 14 days.

RESULTS

In the cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer model, fenchone (37.5-300 mg/kg) significantly decreased the ulcer area and prevented lesion formation. In the acetic acid-induced ulcer model, fenchone (150 mg/kg) reduced (p < 0.001) ulcerative injury. These effects were associated with increased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin (IL)-10, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Furthermore, treatment with (-)-Fenchone (150 mg/kg) significantly reduced (p < 0.001) malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB). A 14-day oral toxicity investigation revealed no alterations in heart, liver, spleen, or kidney weight, nor in the biochemical and hematological parameters assessed. (-)-Fenchone protected animals from body weight loss while maintaining feed and water intake.

CONCLUSION

(-)-Fenchone exhibits low toxicity, prevents duodenal ulcers, and enhances gastric healing activities. Antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties appear to be involved in its therapeutic effects.

Treatment of gastric ulcer, traditional Chinese medicine may be a better choice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gastric ulcer (GU) is the injury of the gastric mucosa caused by the stimulation of various pathogenic factors penetrating the deep mucosal muscle layer. An increasing number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is highly effective in treating GU due to its multitarget, multilevel, and multi-pathway effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To review the latest research progress in the treatment of GU by TCM, including clinical and experimental studies, focusing on the target and mechanism of action of drugs and providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of GU by natural herbs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electronic databases (PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, Web of Science, and CNKI) were searched using the keywords "gastric ulcer", "gastric mucosal lesion", "TCM" and or paired with "peptic ulcer" and "natural drugs" for studies published in the last fifteen years until 2023.

RESULTS

TCM, including single components of natural products, Chinese patent medicines (CPM), and TCM decoction, is expected to treat GU by regulating various mechanisms, such as redox balance, inflammatory factors, angiogenesis, gastric mucosal protective factors, intestinal flora, apoptosis, and autophagy.

CONCLUSIONS

We discussed and summarized the mechanism of TCM in the treatment of GU, which provided a sufficient basis for TCM treatment of GU.

Structural characterization and preventive effect on alcoholic gastric mucosa and liver injury of a novel polysaccharide from Dendrobium officinale

In this study, a polysaccharide (DOP) with molecular weight of 8.25 × 105 Da and monosaccharide composition of mannose (Man) and glucose (Glc) at a molar ratio of 4.2: 1 was isolated from Dendrobium officinale. The preventive effect on alcoholic gastric mucosa and liver injury of DOP was also investigated. In vitro data exhibited that the IC50 values of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging ability and Fe2+ chelating capacity were 2.762 mg/mL and 6.667 mg/mL, respectively. Both the alcoholic gastric mucosal injury (AGMI) and alcoholic liver injury (ALI) animal models were used to investigate the gastrotrophic and hepatoprotective abilities of DOP. After administration of DOP, both gastric mucosal index (TNF-α, IL-6, PGE2, SOD, and MDA) and hepatic indicators (ALT, AST, SOD and MDA) improved compared to non-DOP groups. Histopathological results displayed that the DOP groups improved gastric epithelial defect and inflammatory cell redness caused by AGMI, and decreased vacuolization, hepatocyte necrosis and fibrosis caused by ALI. The results might be related to adjusting inflammatory factors, eliminating free radicals, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation capacities. These results manifested that DOP may be a therapeutic reagent to attenuate alcohol gastric mucosal and liver injury.

Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics to investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of Dehydroevodiamine against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tetradium ruticarpum (A.Juss.) T.G.Hartley, a traditional Chinese medicine with thousands of years of medicinal history, has been employed to address issues such as indigestion, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Dehydroevodiamine (DHE) is a quinazoline alkaloid extracted from traditional Chinese medicine Tetradium ruticarpum (A.Juss.) T.G.Hartley. Previous studies have shown that DHE has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant activities. However, it is still unclear whether DHE has an effect on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of action of DHE on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers using network pharmacology and metabolomics strategies.

METHODS

In this study, we used ethanol-induced rats as a model to assess the efficacy of DHE by biochemical indicator assays and pathological tissue detection. The integration of network pharmacology and metabolomics was used to explore possible mechanisms and was validated by western blot experiments. Finally, molecular docking was used to analyze the binding energy between DHE and the targets of PIK3CG and PLA2G2A.

RESULTS

DHE was able to reverse ethanol-induced abnormalities in biochemical indicators and improve pathological tissue. Network pharmacology results indicated that DHE may be involved in the regulation of gastric ulcers by modulating 79 targets, and metabolomics results showed that a total of 13 metabolites were changed before and after DHE administration. Integrating network pharmacology and metabolomics, PIK3CG and PLA2G2A were identified as possible targets to exert therapeutic effects. In addition, the MAPKs pathway may also be involved in the regulation of ethanol-induced gastric ulcers. Finally, molecular docking results showed that DHE had low binding energies with both PIK3CG and PLA2G2A.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that DHE was able to exert a protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers by modulating multiple metabolites with multiple targets. This study provides a valuable reference for the development of antiulcer drugs.

Gastroprotective effect of eupatilin, a polymethoxyflavone from Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot, in ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury via NF-κB signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Artemisia argyi H.Lév. & Vaniot (AA) has been extensively utilized as an important medicine and food homology in China, Japan, Korea, and eastern parts of Russia, owing to its pharmacological effects, which include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitussive, and antiallergic properties. Despite the extract of AA can significantly alleviate gastric mucosal injury, its precise material basis for effectiveness is not yet clear. As one of the polymethoxy flavonoids with high content in AA, the gastroprotective activity and molecular mechanism of eupatilin (EUP) require further investigation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the gastroprotective effects and possible mechanisms of EUP by using an ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury model in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EUP was isolated from 95% ethanol extract of AA using a systematic phytochemical method. The gastroprotective activity of EUP was evaluated using a male SD rat model with ethanol-induced gastric mucosa injury. Histopathology evaluation of gastric tissues was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The levels of cytokines in the plasma and tissues were tested using the ELISA kits, while western blot analysis was employed to assess the expressions of COX-2, iNOS, and NF-κB pathway proteins.

RESULTS

A sufficient amount of EUP was obtained from AA through chromatographic methods and identified by NMR experiment. In vivo, experimental results proved that EUP could significantly alleviate pathological features, increased SOD, GSH, and IL-10 levels, and decreased the contents of MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Further in vitro and in vivo Western blot experimental results showed that EUP significantly down-regulates the expressions of the NF-κB signal pathway to relieve inflammatory responses.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that EUP could exert gastroprotective effects by inhibiting inflammation, enhancing gastric mucosal defense, and ameliorating oxidative stress, which is beneficial for providing scientific data for the development of gastric protection.

Novel Coumarin Derivatives as Potential Urease Inhibitors for Kidney Stone Prevention and Antiulcer Therapy: From Synthesis to In Vivo Evaluation

The presence of ammonium ions in urine, along with basic pH in the presence of urease-producing bacteria, promotes the production of struvite stones. This causes renal malfunction, which is manifested by symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine. The involvement of urease in stone formation makes it a good target for finding urease enzyme inhibitors, which have the potential to be developed as lead drugs against kidney stones in the future. The documented ethnopharmacology of coumarin 2-one against bacterial, fungal and viral strains encouraged us to synthesize new derivatives of coumarins by reacting aromatic aldehydes with 4-aminocoumarin. The synthesized compounds (2a to 11a) were evaluated for their antimicrobial, in vitro, and in silico properties against the urease enzyme. The study also covers in vivo determination of the synthesized compounds with respect to different types of induced ulcers. The molecular docking study along with extended MD simulations (100 ns each) and MMPBSA study confirmed the potential inhibitory candidates as evident from computed ∆Gbind (3a = -11.62 and 5a = -12.08 Kcal/mol) against the urease enzyme. The in silico analyses were augmented by an enzymatic assay, which revealed that compounds 3a and 5a had strong inhibitory action, with IC50 of 0.412 µM (64.0% inhibition) and 0.322 µM (77.7% inhibition), respectively, compared to standard (Thiourea) with 82% inhibition at 0.14 µM. Moreover, the most active compound, 5a, was further tested in vivo for antiulcer activity by different types of induced ulcers, including pyloric ligation-, ethanol-, aspirin-, and histamine-induced ulcers. Compound 5a effectively reduced gastric acidity, lipid peroxidation, and ulceration in a rat model while also inhibiting gastric ATPase activity, which makes it a promising candidate for ulcer treatment. As a result of the current research, 3a and 5a may be used as new molecules for developing potent urease inhibitors. Additionally, the compound 3a showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium, with zones of inhibition of 41 ± 0.9 mm and 35 ± 0.9 mm, respectively. Compound 7a showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium, with zones of inhibition of 30 ± 0.8 mm and 42 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. These results prove that the synthesized compounds also possess good antibacterial potential against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.

Multifunctional gallic acid self-assembled hydrogel for alleviation of ethanol-induced acute gastric injury

Ethanol-induced acute gastric injury is a prevalent type of digestive tract ulcer, yet conventional treatments strategies frequently encounter several limitations, such as poor bioavailability, degradation of enzymes and adverse side effects. Gallic acid (GA), a natural compound extracted from dogwood, has demonstrated potential protective effects in mitigating acute gastric injury. However, its poor stability and limited bioavailability have restricted applications in vivo. To address these issues, we report a hydrogel constructed only by gallic acid with high bioavailability for alleviation of gastric injury. Molecular dynamic simulation studies revealed that the self-assembly of GA into hydrogel was predominantly attributed to π-π and hydrogen bonds. After assembling, the GA hydrogel exhibits superior anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammatory properties compared with free GA. As anticipated, in vitro experiments demonstrated that GA hydrogel possessed the remarkable ability to promote the proliferation of GES-1 cells, and alleviates apoptosis and inflammation caused by ethanol. Subsequent in vivo investigation further confirmed that GA hydrogel significantly alleviated ethanol-triggered acute gastric injury. Mechanistically, GA hydrogel treatment enhanced the antioxidant capacity, reduced oxidative stress while simultaneously suppressing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced the production of pro-apoptotic proteins during the process of gastric injury. Our finding suggest that this multifunctional GA hydrogel is a promising candidate for gastric injury, particularly in cases of ethanol-induced acute gastric injury.

Green carbon dots derived from Atractylodes macrocephala: A potential nanodrug for treating alcoholic gastric ulcer

Alcoholic gastric ulcer is a common acute gastric injury disease. The drugs currently used in clinical practice not only cannot fundamentally treat gastric injury, but also have serious side effects. There is an urgent demand for the discovery of a mild drug to treat alcoholic gastric ulcers. Herein, the green carbon dots derived from charred Atractylodes macrocephala (CAM-CDs) were acquired and have been proven to be safe and effective in alleviating alcoholic gastric ulcers at an inhibition rate up to 60%. CAM-CDs can markedly attenuate the gastric mucosa damage such as mucosal defect, bleeding and inflammatory cell infiltration by histopathological examination. Serum and tissue inflammatory cytokine measurements, as well as immunohistochemistry results, indicate that its mechanism of gastric mucosal protection may involve the reduction of IL-1β and TNF-α by regulating inflammatory signaling pathway of the NF-κB/NLRP3 axis, as well as elevation of IL-10 levels. CAM-CDs also can reduce oxidative stress markers (MDA), increase PGE2 and mucin secretion (MUC5AC), and it simultaneously exerts slight inhibition of hydrogen potassium ATPase and pepsin activity to protect gastric mucosa, as well as increases the microbial diversity and regulates species composition of gut microbiota in rats with gastric ulcer. Our work provides a new perspective on utilizing carbon-based nanomaterials in the development of new mild drugs.

Hericium erinaceus, a medicinal fungus with a centuries-old history: Evidence in gastrointestinal diseases

Hericium erinaceus is an edible and medicinal mushroom commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Several studies have highlighted its therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal disorders such as gastritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition, some components of this mushroom appear to possess strong antineoplastic capabilities against gastric and colorectal cancer. This review aims to analyse all available evidence on the digestive therapeutic potential of this fungus as well as the possible underlying molecular mechanisms.

Prevotella histicola suppresses ferroptosis to mitigate ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions in mice

BACKGROUND

Ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions (EGML) is one of the most common digestive disorders for which current therapies have limited outcomes in clinical practice. Prevotella histicola (P. histicola) has shown probiotic efficacy against arthritis, multiple sclerosis and oestrogen deficiency-induced depression in mice; however, its role in EGML remains unclear in spite of its extensive colonisation of the stomach. Ferroptosis, which is characterised by lipid peroxidation, may be involved in EGML. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects and underlying mechanism of action of P. histicola on EGML in the ferroptosis-dependent pathway.

METHODS

P. histicola was intragastrically administered for a week, and deferoxamine (DFO), a ferroptosis inhibitor, was intraperitoneally injected prior to oral ethanol administration. The gastric mucosal lesions and ferroptosis were assessed via histopathological examinations, quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

P. histicola was originally found to attenuate EGML by reducing histopathological changes and lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. The pro-ferroptotic genes of Transferrin Receptor (TFR1), Solute Carrier Family 39 Member 14 (SLC39A14), Haem Oxygenase-1 (HMOX-1), Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long-chain Family Member 4 (ACSL4), Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and mitochondrial Voltage-dependent Anion Channels (VDACs) were up-regulated; the anti-ferroptotic System Xc-/Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) axis was inhibited after ethanol administration. However, the changes of histopathology and ferroptosis-related parameters induced by ethanol were reversed by DFO. Furthermore, P. histicola treatment significantly downregulated the expression of ACSL4, HMOX-1 and COX-2, as well as TFR1 and SLC39A14, on mRNA or the protein level, while activating the System Xc-/GPX4 axis.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that P. histicola reduces ferroptosis to attenuate EGML by inhibiting the ACSL4- and VDAC-dependent pro-ferroptotic pathways and activating the anti-ferroptotic System Xc-/GPX4 axis.

Gastroprotective effect of the Lachnum polysaccharide and polysaccharide-dipeptide conjugates against gastric ulcer

Polysaccharides from Lachnum have many important biological activities. The LEP2a-dipeptide derivative (LAG) was obtained by carboxymethyl modification and alanyl-glutamine modification of LEP2a, an extracellular polysaccharide component of Lachnum. Mice with acute gastric ulcers were treated with 50 (low doses) and 150 (high doses) mg/kg, and their therapeutic effects were evaluated from the aspects of pathological damage to gastric tissue, oxidative stress response and inflammatory signal cascade reaction. High doses of LAG and LEP2a significantly inhibited pathological damage to the gastric mucosa, increased the activities of SOD and GSH-Px, and decreased the levels of MDA, and MPO. LEP-2A and LAG could also inhibit the production of proinflammatory factors and reduce the inflammatory response. They significantly decreased the levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, while upregulated the level of PGE2 at high doses. LAG and LEP2a inhibited the protein expression of p-JNK, p-ERK, p-P38, p-IKK, p-IKB α and p-NF-KBP65. LAG and LEP2a protect the gastric mucosa in mice with ulcers by improving oxidative stress, blocking the MAPK/NF-κB pathway and inhibiting the production of inflammatory factors, and the anti-ulcer activity of LAG is superior to that of LEP2a.

Untargeted serum and liver metabolomics analyses reveal the gastroprotective effect of polysaccharide from Evodiae fructus on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice

This study aimed at investigating the gastroprotective effect of Evodiae fructus polysaccharide (EFP) against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice. Biochemical indexes along with untargeted serum and liver metabolomics were determined. Results showed that pre-treatment of EFP alleviated ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice. EFP lessened oxidative stress and inflammation levels of stomachs, showing as increments of SOD and GSH-Px activities, GSH content and IL-10 level, and reductions of MDA and IL-6 levels. Meanwhile, EFP activated the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway through increasing Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expressions, and decreasing Keap1 protein expression. Serum and liver metabolomics analyses indicated that 10 metabolic potential biomarkers were identified among normal control, ulcer control and 200 mg/kg·bw of EFP groups, which were related to 5 enriched metabolic pathways including vitamin B6 metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, bile secretion and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. Further pearson's correlation analysis indicated that there were some positive and negative correlations between the biomarkers and the biochemical indexes. It could be concluded that the gastroprotection of EFP might be related to anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, activation of Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and alteration of metabolic pathways. This study supports the potential application of EFP in preventing ethanol-induced gastric ulcer.

Molecular docking and anti-ulcerative potential of Cucumis (L. Inodorous) on ibuprofen induced gastric ulceration in male wistar animals

BACKGROUND

The use of NSAIDs have caused stomach injury by inhibiting endogenous mucosal prostaglandin production. Cucumis melo is reported to possess antiulcer potential. This study investigates the mechanism underlying the antiulcer potentials of Cucumis melo (CUM).

METHODS

Thirty-five male Wistar rat were randomly assigned to each of seven groups; A(control given water and rat pellets), B(gastric ulcer induced with ibuprofen 400 mg/kg), C (Misoprotol 200 μg/kg), D to G (pretreated with different variation of CUM extract; 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % at a dose of 1 ml/kg for 3 weeks prior to gastric ulcer induction). Ulcer score, ulcer index and percentage inhibition, total gastric acidity was measured. Antioxidant activities, Malondialdehyde, H⁺/K⁺ ATPase, PGE2, TNF-α was done by spectrophotometry. Molecular docking investigation of Cucumis melo compounds against Prostaglandin E2 was carried out. Level of significance was tested at P ≤ 0.05 using Tukey post hoc.

RESULT

Total gastric acidity, ulcer score, ulcer index, MDA, TNF-α significantly decreased after CUM treatment when compared to group B. The percentage inhibition, antioxidant activities, PGE2 concentration was significantly increased in all treatment groups compared to group B. Interactions of selected compounds of CUM with Prostaglandin E2 at various docking pockets showed folic acid has highest binding affinity followed by delta7-avenasterol and codisterol to PGE2 receptor. this study shows that one of the mechanisms by which CUM exhibits its antiulcer potential by enhancing Prostaglandin synthesis and antioxidant capacity. Therefore, Cucumis melo can therefore be explored as novel antiulcer agents.

Dendrobium huoshanense stem polysaccharide ameliorates alcohol-induced gastric ulcer in rats through Nrf2-mediated strengthening of gastric mucosal barrier

This study aimed to explore whether Dendrobium huoshanense stem polysaccharide (cDHPS) ameliorates alcohol-induced gastric ulcer (GU) through the strengthening effect of the gastric mucosal barrier in rats and its potential mechanism. In normal rats, the pretreatment of cDHPS effectively strengthened gastric mucosal barrier by increasing mucus secretion and tight junction protein expression. In GU rats, cDHPS supplementation effectively alleviated alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)-driven inflammation by strengthening gastric mucosal barrier. Moreover, cDHPS significantly activated nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling and promoted antioxidant enzymes activities in both normal and GU rats. These results suggested that the pretreatment of cDHPS could strengthen gastric mucosal barrier to inhibit oxidative stress and NF-κB-driven inflammation induced gastric mucosal injury, which was likely related to the activation of Nrf2 signaling.

Preventive and therapeutic effects of an exopolysaccharide produced by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus on alcoholic gastric ulcers

Crude exopolysaccharides produced by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus SHA113 were previously found to exhibit anti-alcoholic gastric ulcer activity in mice, but their major active fraction, structural characteristics, and underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, LRSE1 was identified as the active exopolysaccharide fraction produced by L. rhamnosus SHA113 responsible for the above effects. Purified LRSE1 had a molecular weight of 4.9 × 10⁴ Da and was comprised of L-fucose, D-mannose, D-glucuronic acid, d-glucose, D-galactose, and L-arabinose in the molar ratio of 2.4:6.5:1.2:1.00:0.3:0.6, respectively. The oral administration of LRSE1 resulted in a significant protective and therapeutic effect on alcoholic gastric ulcers in mice. These effects were identified to involve a reduction in reactive oxygen species, apoptosis, and the inflammatory response, increases in antioxidant enzyme activities, and increases in the phylum Firmicutes and decreases in the genera Enterococcus, Enterobacter, and Bacteroides in the gastric mucosa of mice. In vitro experiments showed that the administration of LRSE1 both inhibited apoptosis in GEC-1 cells via the TRPV1-P65-Bcl-2 pathway and inhibited the inflammatory response in RAW264.7 cells via the TRPV1-PI3K pathway. For the first time, we have identified the active exopolysaccharide fraction produced by Lacticaseibacillus that protects against alcoholic gastric ulcers and determined that its effect involves TRPV1-mediated pathways.

Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide improves the microstructure, immune function, proliferation and reduces apoptosis of thymus and spleen tissue cells of immunosuppressed mice

In order to study the effect of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide (HEP) on the immune and antioxidation functions of immunosuppressed mice. The control group received distilled water orally and the model and experimental groups I, II, and III received 0, 80, 160, and 320 mg/kg HEP respectively for a fortnight after re-molding with cyoclphosphnalide (CTX). Compared with the control group, the secretion of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ, the activity or content of T-AOC, T-SOD, and GSH-PX, and the expression of PCNA mRNA in the thymus and spleen were reduced in immunosuppressed mice (P < .05 or P < .01). Compared with immunosuppressed mice, the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, and GSH-PX and the PCNA mRNA expression of spleen and thymus were increased (P < .05 or P < .01), and the microstructure were also obviously improved in the experimental group III. Overall, 320 mg/kg of HEP significantly improved the immune and antioxidant functions.

Quantitative estimation of enzymatic released specific oligosaccharides from Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides using CE-LIF

Polysaccharides exhibit multiple pharmacological activities which are closely related to their structural features. Therefore, quantitatively quality control of polysaccharides based on their chemical characteristics is important for their application in biomedical and functional food sciences. However, polysaccharides are mixed macromolecular compounds that are difficult to isolate and lack standards, making them challenging to quantify directly. In this study, we proposed an improved saccharide mapping method based on the release of specific oligosaccharides for the assessment of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides from laboratory cultured and different regions of China. Briefly, a polysaccharide from H. erinaceus was digested by β-(1-3)-glucanase, and the released specific oligosaccharides were labeled with 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic-acid (APTS) and separated by using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) coupled with laser induced fluorescence (LIF), and quantitatively estimated. MEKC presented higher resolution compared to polysaccharide analysis using carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE), and provided great peak capacity between oligosaccharides with polymerization degree of 2 (DP2) and polymerization degree of 6 (DP6) in a dextran ladder separation. The results of high performance size exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering and refractive index detector (HPSEC-MALLS-RI) showed that 12 h was sufficient for complete digestion of polysaccharides from H. erinaceus. Laminaritriose (DP3) was used as an internal standard for quantification of all the oligosaccharides. The calibration curve for DP3 showed a good linear regression (R ² > 0.9988). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values were 0.05 μg/mL and 0.2 μg/mL, respectively. The recovery for DP3 was 87.32 (±0.03)% in the three independent injections. To sum up, this proposed method is helpful for improving the quality control of polysaccharides from H. erinaceus as well as other materials.

Therapeutic Potency of Ovothiol A on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Wistar Rats

Peptic ulcer is a widespread disease, with a lifetime frequency of 5–10% among the general population and an annual incidence of 0.1–0.3%. Ovothiol A is naturally produced from sea urchin eggs with special antioxidant activity. Gastric ulcers were induced in rats by a single ethanol dose (5 mL/kg). The rats were divided into control, ulcer, and ulcer with 250 and 500 mg/kg ovothiol A doses. Molecular docking studies were used to examine the interactions between ovothiol A and the H+/K+ ATPase active site residues. Ovothiol A led to a significant decline (p < 0.05) in gastric juice volume, ulcer index, MDA, IL-6, and cytochrome c, while levels of gastric juice pH, GSH, CAT, GST, SOD, and NO increased. Histopathological investigation of stomach sections revealed architecture preservation of the gastric mucosa after ovothiol A administration. The anti-ulcerogenic activity of ovothiol A includes scavenging free radicals, inhibition of inflammation, regulation of apoptosis, and stabilization of fibroblast growth factors to promote gastric ulcers healing.

Therapeutic Potency of Ovothiol A on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Wistar Rats

Peptic ulcer is a widespread disease, with a lifetime frequency of 5−10% among the general population and an annual incidence of 0.1−0.3%. Ovothiol A is naturally produced from sea urchin eggs with special antioxidant activity. Gastric ulcers were induced in rats by a single ethanol dose (5 mL/kg). The rats were divided into control, ulcer, and ulcer with 250 and 500 mg/kg ovothiol A doses. Molecular docking studies were used to examine the interactions between ovothiol A and the H+/K+ ATPase active site residues. Ovothiol A led to a significant decline (p < 0.05) in gastric juice volume, ulcer index, MDA, IL-6, and cytochrome c, while levels of gastric juice pH, GSH, CAT, GST, SOD, and NO increased. Histopathological investigation of stomach sections revealed architecture preservation of the gastric mucosa after ovothiol A administration. The anti-ulcerogenic activity of ovothiol A includes scavenging free radicals, inhibition of inflammation, regulation of apoptosis, and stabilization of fibroblast growth factors to promote gastric ulcers healing.

Therapeutic Potency of Ovothiol A on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Wistar Rats

Peptic ulcer is a widespread disease, with a lifetime frequency of 5–10% among the general population and an annual incidence of 0.1–0.3%. Ovothiol A is naturally produced from sea urchin eggs with special antioxidant activity. Gastric ulcers were induced in rats by a single ethanol dose (5 mL/kg). The rats were divided into control, ulcer, and ulcer with 250 and 500 mg/kg ovothiol A doses. Molecular docking studies were used to examine the interactions between ovothiol A and the H+/K+ ATPase active site residues. Ovothiol A led to a significant decline (p < 0.05) in gastric juice volume, ulcer index, MDA, IL-6, and cytochrome c, while levels of gastric juice pH, GSH, CAT, GST, SOD, and NO increased. Histopathological investigation of stomach sections revealed architecture preservation of the gastric mucosa after ovothiol A administration. The anti-ulcerogenic activity of ovothiol A includes scavenging free radicals, inhibition of inflammation, regulation of apoptosis, and stabilization of fibroblast growth factors to promote gastric ulcers healing.

Protective Effect of Foxtail Millet Protein Hydrolysate on Ethanol and Pyloric Ligation-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Mice

Foxtail millet has been traditionally considered to possess gastroprotective effects, but studies evaluating its use as a treatment for gastric ulcers are lacking. Here, we assessed the antiulcer effects of foxtail millet protein hydrolysate (FPH) and explored its mechanism by using blocking agents. In a mouse model of ethanol-induced gastric ulcers, pretreatment with FPH reduced the ulcerative lesion index, downregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the gastric tissue, increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and improved the oxidative status. FPH increased constitutive the activity of nitric oxide synthase (cNOS), NO levels, and mucin expression in gastric mucosa, and inhibited the activation of the ET-1/PI3K/Akt pathway. In a mouse model of pyloric ligation-induced gastric ulcers, FPH inhibited gastric acid secretion and decreased the activity of gastric protease. Pretreatment of mice with the sulfhydryl blocker NEM and the NO synthesis inhibitor L-NAME abolished the gastroprotective effect of FPH, but not the KATP channel blocker glibenclamide and the PGE2 synthesis blocker indomethacin. Among the peptides identified in FPH, 10 peptides were predicted to have regulatory effects on the gastric mucosa, and the key sequences were GP and PG. The results confirmed the gastroprotective effect of FPH and revealed that its mechanism was through the regulation of gastric mucosal mucus and NO synthesis. This study supports the health effects of a millet-enriched diet and provides a basis for millet protein as a functional food to improve gastric ulcers and its related oxidative stress.

Evaluation of ethanol extracts from three species of Artocarpus as natural gastroprotective agents: in vivo and histopathological studies

OBJECTIVES

Artocarpus is a tropical plant known for its high concentration of secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids and phenolics. This study aims to evaluate the potential use of ethanol extracts obtained from three species of Artocarpus (Artocarpus altilis, Artocarpus champeden, and Artocarpus heterophyllus) as gastroprotective agents.

METHODS

The gastroprotective potential of the extracts at concentrations of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW was studied in an animal model induced by absolute ethanol. The animals were subjected to extract pre-treatment for 14 days. Subsequently, the gastroprotective potential was evaluated based on the area of the lesion, the volume of gastric fluid, gastric pH, total acidity, gastric wall mucus content, and microscopic lesions.

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease in the lesion area and gastric fluid volume in the animals that received pre-treated extracts of A. altilis, A. Champeden, and A. heterophyllus, as well as a significant increase in the pH and gastric wall mucus secretion when compared to the ethanol group (p<0.05), rather than the omeprazole or the normal group (p>0.05). Both macroscopic and microscopic examinations revealed a significant decrease in necrotic lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Extracts of A. altilis, A. Champeden, and A. heterophyllus are effective in lowering the risk of peptic ulcers since they have the potential to be used as natural gastroprotective agents.

Protective Effect of Anwulignan on Gastric Injury Induced by Indomethacin in Mice

Anwulignan (AN) is a monomer lignan from Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wits (Schisandra sphenanthera fructus, Schisandra sphenanthera). The protective effect of AN against the indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric injury to mice and the related mechanism of action was investigated in this study. The effect of AN was mainly assessed by observing the gastric tissue morphology, gastric ulcer index (GUI), ulcer inhibition rate (UIR), gastric juice volume (GJV) and pH value. Chemical colorimetry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, and Western blot were used to detect related factors in the gastric tissue. The results showed that AN reduced the GUI, increased the UIR, inhibited the GJV, and increased the gastric pH value. AN significantly increased cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and prostaglandin E2 expression levels in the gastric tissue, activated nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), increased heme oxygenase-1 expression, enhanced the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and decreased the malondialdehyde content. AN reduced the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κ gene binding (NF-κB) p65 and its nuclear translocation, the key protein of NF-κB signaling pathway in the gastric tissue, and the content of the pathway downstream signaling molecules, including interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α, to play an anti-inflammatory role. AN inhibited the downstream signals B-cell lymphoma 2-associated x protein and cleaved caspase-3 in gastric tissue, and activated B-cell lymphoma 2, to play an antiapoptotic role, which were further verified by Hoechst staining. Therefore, AN has a significant protection against the gastric injury induced by IND in mice, and the mechanism may be concerned in its activation of Nrf2, inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway, and anti-apoptotic effect. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Anwulignan (AN) significantly reduced the indomethacin-induced gastric injury in mice, and its antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and antiapoptosis were considered to be involve in the effect, suggesting that AN should be a potential drug or food supplement for gastric injury induced by indomethacin.

Using omics approaches to dissect the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicines on gastrointestinal cancers

Chinese herbal medicines offer a rich source of anti-cancer drugs. Differences between the pharmacology of Chinese herbal medicines and modern synthetic chemicals hinder the development of drugs derived from herbal products. To address this challenge, novel omics approaches including transcriptomics, proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics have been applied to dissect the pharmacological benefits of Chinese herbal medicines in cancer treatments. Numerous Chinese herbal medicines have shown potential anti-tumor effects on different gastrointestinal (GI) cancers while eliminating the side effects associated with conventional cancer therapies. The present study aimed to provide an overview of recent research focusing on Chinese herbal medicines in GI cancer treatment, based on omics approaches. This review also illustrates the potential utility of omics approaches in herbal-derived drug discovery. Omics approaches can precisely and efficiently reveal the key molecular targets and intracellular interaction networks of Chinese herbal medicines in GI cancer treatment. This study summarizes the application of different omics-based approaches in investigating the effects and mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicines in GI cancers. Future research directions are also proposed for this area of study.

Weipiling decoction alleviates N-methyl-N-nitro-N′-nitrosoguanidine-induced gastric precancerous lesions via NF-κB signalling pathway inhibition

Aim of the study

We aimed to explore how weipiling (WPL) decoction WPL alleviates gastric precancerous lesions (GPLs) and uncover its anti-inflammatory roles in GPL treatment.

Materials and methods

The anti-GPL action mechanisms of WPL were analysed using a network pharmacological method. The WPL extract was prepared in a traditional way and evaluated for its major components using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). BALB/c mice were exposed to N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) (150 μg/mL) for 6 weeks to induce GPLs. GPL mice were administered WPL (3.75 g/kg/day and 15 g/kg/day) for an additional 8 weeks. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to investigate histological alterations in gastric tissues. Expression of the T helper 1 (Th1) cell markers CD4⁺ and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) were tested using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Inflammatory protein and mRNA levels in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway were detected using western blotting and a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), respectively.

Results

We identified and selected 110 active compounds and 146 targets from public databases and references. Four representative components of WPL were established and quantified by HPLC–MS/MS analysis. WPL attenuated MNNG-induced GPLs, including epithelial shedding, cavity fusion, basement membranes with asymmetrical thickness, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, pro-inflammatory Th1-cell infiltration, and INF-γ production, indicating that WPL prevents inflammation in the gastric mucosa. Furthermore, WPL reversed MNNG-induced activation of the IκB/NF-κB signalling pathway and subsequently attenuated the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase (NOX)) family members NOX2 and NOX4.

Conclusion

WPL attenuated GPLs by controlling the generation of pro-inflammatory elements and inhibiting the NF-κB signalling pathway in vivo.

Alloimperatorin from Ammi majus fruits mitigates Piroxicam-provoked gastric ulcer and hepatorenal toxicity in rats via suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis

Introduction: Fruits of Ammi majus, commonly called bishop's weed, contain a significant amount of furanocoumarins. Alloimperatorin (Allo, 6) was isolated from the free coumarin fraction of fruits, beside 8-hydroxypsoralen (1), methoxsalen (2), heraclin (3), isoimperatorin (4), imperatorin (5), isoheraclenin (7) and heraclenin hydrate (8). Piroxicam (Px) is a widely used pain-relieving drug that demonstrated side effects, including gastric ulceration and hepatorenal toxicity.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the protective potential of Alloimperatorin against Px-induced gastric ulceration and hepatorenal toxicity.Material & Methods: Rats were divided into four groups: Negative control, Px-induced rats, Allo + Px co-treated group, and Pc + Px co-treated group. Allo (25 mg/kg body weight) and Pc (25 mg/kg body weight) treatments were received 5 days before and 4 days after Px intoxication for 4 days (50 mg/kg body weight). Serum prostaglandin E2 (PG-E2) and liver and kidney functions were measured. Oxidative stress markers were evaluated in the three tissues. Histopathological features and caspase-3 immunoexpression were monitoredResults & Discussion: Px triggered gastric ulceration, increased indices of liver and kidney functions, decreased PG-E2 levels, provoked oxidative stress, and activated caspase-3 immunoexpression. Co-treatment with Allo demonstrated protective activities.Conclusion: Alloimperatorin exhibited anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities.

Gastroprotective activity of polysaccharide from the fruiting body of Hericium erinaceus against acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in rats and structure of one bioactive fraction

This study aimed at investigating gastroprotective activity of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide (HEP) and characterizing one of its bioactive fractions. Acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer (GU) rat model was used to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of HEP, while H₂O₂-induced injury GES-1 cell model was conducted to screen the bioactive fractions from HEP. Moreover, one of the bioactive fractions was characterized using methylation and 1D/2D NMR analysis. Results indicated HEP treatment could ameliorate acetic acid-induced GU in rats. HEP supplement decreased levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase activity, and increased releases of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, epidermal growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor and superoxide dismutase activity in gastric tissues of ulcerated rats. Five purified polysaccharides from HEP were screened to be bioactive fractions with cytoprotection on H₂O₂-induced injury in GES-1 cells. Among them, RP-S was characterized to be a (1 → 6)-β-D-glucan, whose backbone was composed of →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1 → residue and branched with T-β-D-Glcp-(1 → residue at O-3 position. In conclusion, HEP possessed gastroprotection against acetic acid-induced GU in rats and one of its bioactive fractions was a β-D-glucan. This study supports the utilization of HEP in anti-GU and provides evidences for the structure of gastroprotective HEP.

Gastroprotective Effects of Fermented Gold Kiwi (Actinidia chinenesis L.) Extracts on HCl/EtOH-Induced Gastric Injury in Rats

Gastritis and gastric ulcers caused by stressors such as drinking are common. The ability of functional foods to protect the stomach more effectively and reduce the risk of side effects is of interest. The fermentation process can increase the preservation and bioactive compound content of kiwi fruits. This study produced fermented kiwi powder using two lactic acids separated from gold kiwi fruits. Gold kiwi puree (Actinidia chinensis L.) was fermented using beneficial bacteria. Fermentation increased the content of bioactive compounds such as organic acids, flavonoids, and carotenoids. We investigated whether fermented gold kiwi (FGK) extract had antioxidant and gastric protective effects in an HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis animal model and pyloric ligation animal model. FGK increased radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. In the gastritis model, FGK inhibited inflammation-related factors such as iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and TNF-α, while increasing the expression of the protective molecule PGE2. Furthermore, FGK administration improved gastric lesion site appearance, clinical symptoms, and mucosal thickness in rats. FGK also reduced gastric fluid volume, free acidity, total acidity, and pepsin activity in the pyloric ligation model. These results suggest that FGK can decrease the inflammatory response and protect the gastric mucosa. FGK therefore has the potential to prevent and treat gastritis and gastric ulcers.

Gastroprotective Effects of Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides with Different Molecular Weights on Ethanol-Induced Acute Gastric Injury in Rats

Ganoderma lucidum is known as a medicine food homology that can ameliorate gastrointestinal diseases. To evaluate the gastroprotective effects on different Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs), GLP was separated into three parts with different molecular weights using 100 kDa, 10 kDa, and 1 kDa membranes. The mitigation effects of different GLPs on ethanol-induced acute gastric injury were observed in rats. After pretreatment with different GLPs, especially GLP above 10 kDa, the symptoms of gastric mucosal congestion and bleeding were improved; serum myeloperoxidase, inflammatory factor, and histamine were decreased; and antioxidant activity and defense factors (NO and EGF) were increased. Results showed that GLP with different molecular weights had a dose-dependent effect in alleviating alcohol-induced gastric injury. The underlying mechanism might be related to regulating anti-oxidation, promoting the release of related defense factors, reducing inflammatory factors, and reducing the level of histamine in serum. The current work indicated that GLPs above 10 kDa could be applied as natural resources for producing new functional foods to prevent gastric injury induced by ethanol.

Investigation on the Effects and Mechanisms of Alkaline Natural Mineral Water and Distilled Water on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers In Vivo and In Vitro

Studies have proven that alkaline water has a protective effect on gastric diseases. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. Moreover, in some countries, especially in China, purified water (distilled water) is also an important form of drinking water, while its protective effect on gastric diseases is still unknown. This study aimed to compare the effects of distilled water (pH = 5.6 ± 0.3) and alkaline natural mineral water (pH = 9.3 ± 0.6) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in mice and to further clarify the underlying mechanisms. Pepsin activity, prostaglandin E-2 (PGE2) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as the oxidative stress pathway related proteins such as nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NADH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) were measured. After alkaline natural mineral water treatment, the levels of PGE2 and HSP70 were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Antioxidant indexes (SOD, GSH, and MDA) and Western blot results (Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1) showed that alkaline natural mineral water did not alleviate gastric ulcers by improving oxidative stress. Pepsin activity assay displayed that the pepsin activity was significantly declined after alkaline natural mineral water treatment compared with the distilled water treatment (p < 0.05). This study indicated that alkaline natural mineral water may alleviate the ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in mice by inhibiting the pepsin activity and increasing the levels of PGE2 and HSP70.

Prophylactic Effect of Lactobacillus fermentum TKSN02 on Gastric Injury Induced by Hydrochloric Acid/Ethanol in Mice Through Its Antioxidant Capacity

In this article, the preventive and protective effect of a new Lactobacillus fermentum, (Lactobacillus fermentum TKSN02: LF-N2), which was isolated and identified from Xinjiang naturally fermented yogurt, on hydrochloric acid (HCl)/ethanol induced gastric injury in mice was studied. A total of 40 mice were divided into the following five groups: normal, model, LF-N2, LB (Lactobacillus bulgaricus), and Ranitidine groups. Except for the normal and model groups, mice in the other groups were treated with LF-N2, LB (Lactobacillus bulgaricus), and Ranitidine separately, and the injury of the gastric tissue was observed by taking photos and pathological sections. The levels of oxidation indicators, gastrointestinal hormone and the inflammatory cytokines in serum and gastric tissue in each group were measured. Further more, the gene expression levels of oxidative stress and inflammation related genes in the colon tissue were determined by the Real-Time PCR method. Pathological observation confirmed that LF-N2 could inhibit the gastric injury caused by HCl/ethanol. Observation of the appearance of the gastric indicated that LF-N2 could effectively reduce the area of gastric injury. Biochemical results showed that the serum gastrin (GAS) and gastric motilin (MTL) levels in the LF-N2 group were significantly lower and the serum somatostatin (SS) level was higher than in the model group and there was no significant difference between all treatment groups. The activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were increased while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was decreased in LF-N2 treatment group mice, which suggested that LF-N2 has a good antioxidant effect. Further RT-PCR experiments also showed that LF-N2 could promote the related mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes (Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and CAT) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, and IL-10), while it inhibited the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) and apoptosis factor (Caspase-3). As observed, LF-N2 exerted a good preventive effect on HCl/ethanol induced gastric injury in mice, and the effect was close to that of LB, which indicated that LF-N2 has potential use as a probiotic due to its gastric injury treatment effects.

Preparation of deer oil powder and its effect on acute gastric mucosal injury in rats

In this paper, deer oil was used as a raw material to prepare deer oil powder by microencapsulation technology to study the potential protective activity of deer oil powder on ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in rats. The results show that the best process for preparing deer oil powder is: the solids account for 25% of the system content, the wall material Whey Milk Protein Isolate-Maltodextrin ratio is 1:5, the Sodium Stearyl Lactate-Glycerides of Monostearate and Distearate compound emulsifier content is 0.8%, the ratio is 1:1, and the deer oil accounts for 30% of the solid content, and the spray drying inlet temperature is 180°C. Deer oil powder can reduce total stomach injury, gastric mucosal congestion area, and injury score index. Without affecting the blood lipid level, it can reduce the content of Myeloperoxidase, enhance the activity of Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase, and has good antioxidant activity. Enhance the expression of defense factors Estradiol, Epidermal Growth Factor, and Somatostatin. At the same time, it reduces the levels of Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines in gastric tissue and enhances the expression of anti-inflammatory factors Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-10. These results indicate that the gastric protection mechanism of deer oil powder may be related to the enhancement of mucosal defense factors, inhibition of inflammation, and oxidative stress. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study screened the optimal formula for preparing microencapsulated deer oil powder and proved for the first time that deer oil powder has a strong gastroprotective effect on ethanol-induced acute gastric injury in rats. The gastric protective mechanism of deer oil powder is mainly to reduce oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokine accumulation and to increase the content of defense factors. Therefore, deer oil powder can be used as a new source of gastric treatment drugs.

Genome Sequencing of Hericium coralloides by a Combination of PacBio RS II and Next-Generation Sequencing Platforms

The fruiting bodies or mycelia of Hericium coralloides (H. coralloides) contain many physiologically active compounds that are used to treat various diseases, including cardiovascular disorders and cancers. However, the genome of H. coralloides has not been sequenced, which hinders further investigations into aspects, such as bioactivity or evolutionary events. The present study is aimed at (i) performing de novo sequencing of the assembled genome; (ii) mapping the reads from PE400 DNA into the assembled genome; (iii) identifying the full length of all the repeated sequences; and (iv) annotating protein-coding genes using GO, eggNOG, and KEGG databases. The assembled genome comprised 5,59,05,675 bp, including 307 contigs. The mapping rate of reads obtained from PE400 DNA in the assembled genome was 92.46%. We identified 2,525 repeated sequences of 14,23,274 bp length. We predicted ncRNAs of 48,895 bp and 11,736 genes encoding proteins that were annotated in the GO, eggNOG, and KEGG databases. We are the first to sequence the entire H. coralloides genome (NCBI; Assembly: ASM367540v1), which will serve as a reference for studying the evolutionary diversification of edible and medicinal mushrooms and facilitate the application of bioactivity in H. coralloides.

Structural characterization of two Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides and their protective effects on the alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury

Hericium erinaceus, a traditional edible mushroom, is known as a medicine food homology to ameliorate gastrointestinal diseases. However, the relationship between the structural characteristics of Hericium erinaceus and its stomach-protecting activity remains unclear. Here, the structural properties of two polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus, mycelium polysaccharide (HMP) and fruiting body polysaccharide (HFP) were investigated by spectral approaches. The results showed that the distribution of HMP was more uniform compared to HFP. Both HMP and HFP have triple helix structures, but the HMP conformation showed greater stability. Subsequently, the preventive effect of HMP and HFP on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury was also evaluated in rats and GES-1 cells, and it showed that both HMP and HFP had significant protective activity against gastric mucosal injury, but HMP showed better activity than HFP. These results suggested that conformational stability polysaccharide in Hericium erinaceus is more related to its gastric-protecting activity.

Gastric Ulcer Healing Property of Bryophyllum pinnatum Leaf Extract in Chronic Model In Vivo and Gastroprotective Activity of Its Major Flavonoid

Gastric ulcer is a common disease that develops complications such as hemorrhages and perforations when not properly treated. Extended use of drugs in the treatment of this pathology can provoke many adverse effects. Therefore, finding medicinal plants with gastroprotective and mucosal healing properties has gained increasing interest. Bryophyllum pinnatum (Crassulaceae), popularly known in Brazil as “saião” or “coirama,” has been used to treat inflammatory disorders. It is rich in flavonoids, and quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside-Bp1 is its major compound. In this study, we aimed to investigate ulcer healing properties of B. pinnatum against an acetic acid–induced chronic ulcer model and the gastroprotective activity of Bp1 against gastric lesions induced by ethanol and indomethacin. Ultrafast liquid chromatography was used to quantify the main compounds (mg/g of the extract)—quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (33.12 ± 0.056), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (3.98 ± 0.049), and quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (4.26 ± 0.022) and showed good linearity, specificity, selectivity, precision, robustness, and accuracy. In vivo studies showed that treatment with the extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg stimulated the healing process in the gastric mucosa with significant ulceration index reduction, followed by improvement in the antioxidant defense system [increased glutathione (GSH) levels, decreased superoxide dismutase upregulation, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels]. Moreover, the extract decreased interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-a levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, increased interleukin 10 levels, showed a cytoprotective effect in histological analyzes and also downregulated the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and NF-κB (p65). The pretreatment with Bp1 at a dose of 5 mg/kg reduced gastric lesions in the ethanol and indomethacin models, increased GSH, and decreased MDA levels. In addition, the pretreatment decreased MPO activity, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, while also showing a cytoprotective effect in histological analyzes. Our study suggests that treatment with B. pinnatum extract showed a higher inhibition percentage than pretreatment with the Bp1. This might in turn suggest that Bp1 has gastroprotective activity, but other compounds can act synergistically, potentiating its effect. We conclude that B. pinnatum leaf extract could be a new source of raw material rich in phenolic compounds to be applied in food or medicine.

Tricholoma matsutake-Derived Peptides Show Gastroprotective Effects against Ethanol-Induced Acute Gastric Injury

Acute gastric injury caused by ethanol is a frequent disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we investigated the potential gastroprotective effects of Tricholoma matsutake-derived peptides against ethanol-triggered acute gastric injury and the associated mechanisms. Peptides SDLKHFPF and SDIKHFPF significantly attenuated the ethanol-induced decrease in GES-1 cell survival (82.39 ± 1.93 and 80.10 ± 1.08% vs 56.58 ± 1.86%), inhibited GES-1 cell apoptosis, and alleviated the ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury (64.76 ± 3.98 and 49.29 ± 3.25%), ulcer index (3.33 ± 0.47 and 4.67 ± 0.47 vs 6.67 ± 0.47), and histopathological changes in mice. Peptide treatment inhibited the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and endothelin-1. In addition, T. matsutake peptide pretreatment increased growth factor secretion, upregulated B-cell lymphoma-2, downregulated Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), and cleaved cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3, thereby promoting gastric cell survival. These findings strongly suggest that T. matsutake peptides attenuate ethanol-induced inflammatory responses and apoptosis by suppressing NF-κB signaling activation, thereby enhancing gastric epithelial barrier functions.

Gastroprotective effect and mechanisms of Chinese sumac fruits (Rhus chinensis Mill.) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in mice

This paper aimed to study the effect of the phenol-rich fraction from Chinese sumac fruits on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in mice and to further elucidate the potential mechanisms. The results showed that the phenol-rich fraction of the fruits significantly decreased the ulcer index, restored the levels of prostaglandin E-2, heat shock protein 70, glutathione and superoxide dismutase, and reduced the malondialdehyde content. Further analyses revealed that the fraction significantly alleviated the gastric oxidative stress by upregulating the Nrf2 protein pathway to increase the HO-1 and NQO1 expression levels, suppressed the inflammation by reducing the expression levels of p-NF-κB and p-IκBα and inhibited the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6. In addition, the fraction remarkably prevented gastric mucous cell apoptosis by upregulating Bcl-2 and downregulating Bax and cleaved caspase3. This experiment clarified for the first time that the phenol-rich fraction from Chinese sumac fruits can prevent ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in mice by inhibiting the oxidative stress, inflammatory response and cell apoptosis. The results obtained from the current work indicated that the phenol-rich fraction from Chinese sumac fruits could be applied as a kind of natural resource for producing new functional foods to prevent and/or improve gastric ulcers induced by ethanol.

Effect of Aqueous Enzymatic Extraction of Deer Oil on Its Components and Its Protective Effect on Gastric Mucosa Injury

In this study, deer suet fat was used as a raw material to study the effects of aqueous enzymatic extraction of deer oil on its components, followed by studies into the potential protective activity, and related molecular mechanisms of deer oil on ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in rats. The results show that aqueous enzymatic extraction of deer oil not only has a high extraction yield and has a small effect on the content of active ingredients. Deer oil can reduce total stomach injury. Without affecting the blood lipid level, it can reduce the oxidative stress, which is manifested by reducing the content of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and enhancing the activity level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). It also enhances the expression of defense factors prostaglandin (E2), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and somatostatin (SS), it inhibits apoptosis evidenced by the enhanced of Bcl-2 and decreased expression of cleavage of caspase-3 and Bax. At the same time, it reduces inflammation, which is manifested by reducing the expression of IL-1β, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gastric tissue pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhancing the expression of anti-inflammatory factors IL-4 and IL-10, and inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor kappa B (MAPK/NF-κB) signaling pathway in gastric tissue.

Structural characterization of a polysaccharide from Radix Hedysari and its protective effects against H2O2-induced injury in human gastric epithelium cells

The gastroprotective effects of polysaccharides had become a hot topic in the field of functional polysaccharides research. Three polysaccharides, namely HPS-80-1, HPS-80-2, and HPS-80-3 were purified by DEAE-52 column chromatography. The thermodynamic characteristics, scanning electron microscopy, and Congo red experimental results of the above polysaccharides were greatly distinctive. Then a mature GES-1 oxidative stress cell model induced by H₂O₂ was established to screen out subsequent research subjects. It turned out that HPS-80-1 had a desirable protective effect, which was confirmed by analyses of cell cycle & apoptosis, and oxidative stress-related factors in the cell culture media, and so on. Furthermore, Structural features demonstrated that the backbone of HPS-80-1 appeared to mainly consist of →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →4,6)-β-L-Glcp-(1→, and →6)-α-D-Galp-(1→, with branches at O-1, O-4, and O-6 position consisting of →2,4)-β-D-Rhap-(1→, →1)-α-D-Galp-(4→, and →3,4)-α-D-Manp-(1→. It was speculated that the excellent gastric mucosal protective activity of HPS-80-1 may be due to the high amount of glucose in the backbone. In addition, it was also related to the anti-inflammatory activity and antioxidant bases such as (1 → 4)-Glcp and (1 → 6)-Galp in the structure of HPS-80-1. These findings provide a scientific basis for further utilization of polysaccharides from Radix Hedysari.

Sequential loading of inclusion complex/nanoparticles improves the gastric retention of Vladimiriae Radix essential oil to promote the protection of acute gastric mucosal injury

The essential oil from Vladimiriae Radix (VEO) is a medicinal natural product with anti-ulcer activity. A novel gastroretentive drug delivery system was developed by preparing the hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) inclusion complex incorporated into chitosan nanoparticles (V-CD/NPs), to improve the bioavailability of VEO and its protective effect on gastric mucosa. The optimum preparation process of V-CD/NPs was obtained by Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken response surface methodology. The resulting V-CD/NPs gained a suitable positive potential and small particle size, and showed stability in simulated gastric fluid, whose morphology and in vitro drug release profiles had a pH-sensitivity. Besides, V-CD/NPs was proved to strongly bind with mucin, and in vivo imaging revealed that it could be retained in the stomach for more than 8 h. The results of drug concentration in gastric tissues showed that the sequential loading of inclusion complex/nanoparticles promoted the local absorption of VEO in gastric tissues, which was favorable to reach the effective therapeutic concentration in the lesioned mucosa area. In comparison to VEO and V-CD, the callback effect of V-CD/NPs on 1L-1β, 1L-6, TNF-α, NF-κB, MDA and SOD was comparable to cimetidine, and V-CD/NPs outperformed in gastric mucosal protection. Therefore, the gastroretentive drug delivery system developed in our study effectively enhanced the anti-ulcer activity of VEO, which could be a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of the acute gastric mucosal injury.

Immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides enzymatic hydrolysis from Hericium erinaceus on the MODE-K/DCs co-culture model

The aim of this study was to explore the indirect immunomodulatory activities and its mechanism of enzymatic hydrolysis of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides (EHEP) in the MODE-K/DCs co-culture model. According to the TEER value, transmission of phenol red and AKP activity of MODE-K cells, single model was established in order to evaluate the eligibility of MODE-K cells monolayer. Then the MODE-K/DCs co-culture model was set up and HEP and EHEP were added into the apical chamber, DCs were obtained for the expression of key surface markers, the ability of phagocytosis, the morphology, the secretion of cytokines and the production of target proteins. We found that after 21 d of culture, the MODE-K cells monolayer became intact and dense, which can be used for the MODE-K/DCs co-culture model. Under the treatment of HEP and EHEP, immature DCs become into mature DCs with the high expression of CD86 and MHCII, the low antigens up-taking, the typical morphology, the more content of IL-12 and TNF-α and the high level of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB proteins. However, compared with HEP, EHEP showed the better immunomodulatory activities. These findings indicated that EHEP could indirectly affect the immune function of DCs in the MODE-K/DCs co-culture model.

Lycopene Aggravates Acute Gastric Injury Induced by Ethanol

Lycopene is an important natural red pigment with strong singlet oxygen and peroxide free radical quenching ability. Ethanol directly destroys the epithelial cells of gastric mucosa, causing oxidative damage and inflammation. To evaluate the effect of lycopene on the ethanol induced gastric injury, 112 adult male Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal control, lycopene control, gastric injury control, omeprazole (20 mg/kg) positive control, and lycopene experimental groups (at doses of 10, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg body weight) in this study. The general and pathological evaluation, gastric secretion, as well as the levels of antioxidant and inflammatory factors were detected. In lycopene experimental groups, the amount of gastric juice were lower than that in the gastric injury control group; the levels of T-SOD, and the levels of MDA and inflammatory factors (MMP-9 and MCP-1) decreased. However, general and pathological evaluation of gastric tissues revealed that lycopene (especially at high doses) could aggravate acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ethanol. Therefore, lycopene (especially at high doses) aggravates acute gastric mucosal injury caused by ethanol, but this was not due to oxidative stress or inflammatory factors. In lycopene control group, the levels of MTL, T-SOD, and NO increased, but the levels of ALT and AST decreased, indicating that lycopene has a protective effect on the stomach and liver when ethanol wasn't taken. It reminds us that, when alcohol is consumed in large quantities, consumption of lycopene products should be carefully considered.