Influence of a diet meal plan on pepsinogen I and II, gastrin-17, and nutritional status in gastric ulcer patients

BACKGROUND

Gastric ulcers (GUs) have a high risk of clinical morbidity and recurrence, and further exploration is needed for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease.

AIM

To investigated the effects of a diet plan on pepsinogen (PG) I, PG II, gastrin-17 (G-17) levels and nutritional status in patients with GUs.

METHODS

A total of 100 patients with GUs treated between May 2022 and May 2023 were enrolled, with 47 patients in the control group receiving routine nursing and 53 patients in the experimental group receiving dietary nursing intervention based on a diet plan. The study compared the two groups in terms of nursing efficacy, adverse events (vomiting, acid reflux, and celialgia), time to symptom improvement (burning sensation, acid reflux, and celialgia), gastric function (PG I, PG II, and G-17 levels), and nutritional status [prealbumin (PA) and albumin (ALB) levels].

RESULTS

The experimental group showed a markedly higher total effective rate of nursing, a significantly lower incidence of adverse events, and a shorter time to symptom improvement than the control group. Additionally, the experimental group's post-intervention PG I, PG II, and G-17 levels were significantly lower than pre-intervention or control group levels, whereas PA and ALB levels were significantly higher.

CONCLUSION

The diet plan significantly reduced PG I, PG II, and G-17 levels in patients with GUs and significantly improved their nutritional status.

Neuropeptide W facilitates chronic gastric ulcer healing by the regulation of cyclooxygenase and NF-κB signaling pathways

AIMS

Putative beneficial effects of neuropeptide W (NPW) in the early phase of gastric ulcer healing process and the involvement of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes were investigated in an acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer model.

MAIN METHODS

In anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats, acetic acid was applied surgically on the serosa and then a COX-inhibitor (COX-2-selective NS-398, COX-1-selective ketorolac, or non-selective indomethacin; 2 mg/kg/day, 3 mg/kg/day or 5 mg/kg/day; respectively) or saline was injected intraperitoneally. One h after ulcer induction, omeprazole (20 mg/kg/day), NPW (0.1 μg/kg/day) or saline was intraperitoneally administered. Injections of NPW, COX-inhibitors, omeprazole or saline were continued for the following 2 days until rats were decapitated at the end of the third day.

KEY FINDINGS

NPW treatment depressed gastric prostaglandin (PG) I2 level, but not PGE2 level. Similar to omeprazole, NPW treatment significantly reduced gastric and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta levels and depressed the upregulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and COX-2 expressions due to ulcer. In parallel with the histopathological findings, treatment with NPW suppressed ulcer-induced increases in myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde level and replenished glutathione level. However, the inhibitory effect of NPW on myeloperoxidase activity and NPW-induced increase in glutathione were not observed in the presence of COX-1 inhibitor ketorolac or the non-selective COX-inhibitor indomethacin.

SIGNIFICANCE

In conclusion, NPW facilitated the healing of gastric injury in rats via the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative stress and neutrophil infiltration as well as the downregulation of COX-2 protein and NF-κB gene expressions.

Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides as a Natural Functional Component for Acetic-Acid-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Dendrobium officinale is an important edible and medicinal plant, with the Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) being its primary active constituent, known for its diverse biological activities. In this study, DOP was extracted and characterized for its structural properties. The potential of DOP to ameliorate gastric ulcers (GUs) was investigated using an acetic-acid-induced GU model in rats. The results demonstrated that DOP exerted a multifaceted protective effect against GU, mitigating the deleterious impact on food intake and body weight in rats. DOP exhibited its protective action by attenuating cellular damage attributed to oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions mediated by enhanced activities of SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX, coupled with a downregulation in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, DOP effectively inhibited apoptosis in gastric mucosa cells of acetic-acid-induced GU rat models and facilitated the self-repair of damaged tissues. Remarkably, the DOP-200 and DOP-400 groups outperformed omeprazole in reducing the expression of IL-6 and malondialdehyde (MDA) in tissues, as well as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in serum. These groups also exhibited an improved expression of SOD in tissues and SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX in serum. A Western blot analysis of gastric mucosa demonstrated that the DOP-200 and DOP-400 groups significantly reduced the expression of NF-κBp65, phosphorylated NF-κBp65, FoxO3a, and Bim. The observed antagonism to GU appeared to be associated with the NF-κB cell pathway. Additionally, qRT-PCR results indicate that DOP reduced the mRNA transcription levels of IL-6, and TNF-α, which shows that the healing of GU is related to the reduction in the inflammatory reaction by DOP. However, the expression of EGF and VEGF decreased, suggesting that the mechanism of DOP inhibiting GU may not be directly related to EGF and VEGF, or there is an uncertain competitive relationship between them, so further research is needed.

Integration of gut microbiome and serum metabolome revealed the effect of Qing-Wei-Zhi-Tong Micro-pills on gastric ulcer in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Qing-Wei-Zhi-Tong Micro-pills (QWZT) is herbal compound used in the treatment of GU, whose functions include clearing the stomach and fire, softening the liver and relieving pain. However, its mechanistic profile on host intestinal microbiota and metabolism has not been determined.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to observe the healing effect of QWZT on acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in a rat model and to preliminarily elucidate its possible therapeutic mechanism from the perspective of host intestinal microbiota and metabolism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Wistar male rats (7 weeks old; weight 180-200 g) were randomly divided into normal control group (NC), acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer group (GU), and QWZT treatment group (High dose: 1250 mg/kg/day, Middle dose: 625 mg/kg/day, Low dose: 312.5 mg/kg/day) of 6 rats each. An acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer rat model was constructed based on anatomical surgery. QWZT (High dose, Middle dose, and Low dose) was used to treat gastric ulcer rats for 7 days by gavage. At the end of treatment, the body weight, macroscopic condition of gastric tissue ulcers, pathological changes (HE staining), inflammatory factors, oxidative stress factors, and endocrine factors were assessed in each group of rats. Fresh feces and serum from each group of rats were collected for microbiome and metabolome analysis on the machine, respectively. Drug-disease common targets and functional pathways were captured based on network pharmacology. The complex network of Herbs-Targets-Pathways-Metabolites-Microbiota interactions was constructed. Ultimately, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) evaluated the contribution of gut microbiota in disease.

RESULTS

QWZT increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Bacteroides, Alloprevotella, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Parabacteroides, etc.), reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria (Micromonospora, Geobacter, Nocardioides, and Arenimonas, etc.), reduced the levels of inflammatory mediators (12,13-EpOME, 9,10-Epoxyoctadecenoic acid, SM(d18:1/16:0) and Leukotriene A4, etc.), restored host metabolic disorders (Linoleic acid metabolism, Glycerophospholipid metabolism, and Arachidonic acid metabolism), and regulated the level of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-a, SOD, MDA, PEG-2 and NO), ultimately exerting an anti-ulcer effect. Apart from that, FMT improved acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats.

CONCLUSION

QWZT improved acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats by remodeling intestinal microbiota and regulating host metabolism. This work may promote the process of developing and utilizing clinical applications of QWZT.

Protective effect of alpha-ketoglutarate against water-immersion restraint stress-induced gastric mucosal damage in mice

Gastric lesions have several aetiologies, among which stress is the most prominent. Therefore, identification of new therapies to prevent stress is of considerable importance. Alpha-ketoglutarate (α-kg) several beneficial effects and has shown promise in combating oxidative stress, inflammation, and premature aging. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of α-kg in a gastric damage model by water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS). Pretreatment with α-kg decreased stress-related histopathological scores of tissue oedema, cell loss, and inflammatory infiltration. The α-kg restored the percentage of type III collagen fibres. Mucin levels were preserved as well as the structure and area of the myenteric plexus ganglia were preserved after pretreatment with α-kg. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) were also reduced following α-kg pretreatment. Decreased levels of glutathione (GSH) in the stress group were restored by α-kg. The omeprazole group was used as standard drug e also demonstrated improve on some parameters after the exposition to WIRS as inflammatory indexes, GSH and mucin. Through this, was possible to observe that α-kg can protect the gastric mucosa exposed to WIRS, preserve tissue architecture, reduce direct damage to the mucosa and inflammatory factors, stimulate the production of type III collagen and mucin, preserve the myenteric plexus ganglia, and maintain antioxidant potential. Due to, we indicate that α-kg has protective activity of the gastric mucosa, demonstrating its ability to prevent damage associated with gastric lesions caused by stress.

Novel Gastroprotective and Thermostable Cocrystal of Dimethyl Fumarate: Its Preparation, Characterization, and In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

Crystallization has revolutionized the field of solid-state formulations by modulating the physiochemical and release profile of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Dimethyl fumarate (DF), an FDA-approved first-line drug for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, has a sublimation problem, leading to loss of the drug during its processing. To tackle this problem, DF cocrystal has been prepared by using solvent evaporation technique using nicotinamide as a coformer, which has been chosen based on in silico predictions and their ability to participate in hydrogen bonding. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and sublimation analysis have characterized the cocrystal and its thermostability. Comparative analysis of the release profile has been done by the dissolution and pharmacokinetic study of DF and its cocrystal. Formulated cocrystal is noncytotoxic, antioxidant and inhibits interleukin-6 and tissue necrosis factor-α in peripheral blood mononuclear cells induced by lipopolysaccharide. We have obtained a thermostable cocrystal of DF with a similar physicochemical and release profile to that of DF. The formulated cocrystal also provides a gastroprotective effect which helps counterbalance the adverse effects of DF by reducing lipid peroxidation and total nitrite levels.

Green synthetic natural carbon dots derived from Fuligo Plantae with inhibitory effect against alcoholic gastric ulcer

Introduction: Fuligo Plantae (FP), the ash that sticks to the bottom of pots or chimneys after weeds burn, has long been used for its hemostatic effects and treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding. Nevertheless, the active ingredient of FP still needs to be further explored. Methods: The microstructure, optical and chemical properties of FP-CDs were characterized. An alcohol-induced gastric ulcer model was utilized to evaluate whether pre-administration of FP-CDs alleviated gastric bleeding symptoms and ameliorated gastric mucosal barrier disruption. In addition, the feces of each group of rats were extracted for 16S rDNA genome sequencing of intestinal flora. Results: FP-CDs with a diameter ranging from 1.4-3.2 nm had abundant chemical groups, which may be beneficial to the exertion of inherent activity. FP-CDs alleviated alcohol-induced gastric ulcer, as demonstrated by activating the extrinsic coagulation pathway, alleviating inflammation, and suppressing oxidative stress levels. More interestingly, FP-CDs can improve the diversity and dysbiosis of intestinal flora in rats with alcohol-induced gastric ulcer. Conclusion: These comes about illustrate the momentous inhibitory effects of FP-CDs on alcoholic gastric ulcer in rats, which give a modern methodology for investigating the effective ingredient of FP, and lay an experimental basis for the application of FP-CDs in the clinical treatment of alcoholic gastric ulcer.

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.

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.

Atractylone Alleviates Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rat with Altered Gut Microbiota and Metabolites

Background

Gastric ulcer (GU) is the most common multifactor gastrointestinal disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. There is evidence that gut microbiota is closely related to the development of GU. Atractylone (ATR) has been reported to possess potential biological activities, but research on ATR alleviating GU injury is unprecedented.

Methods

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced GU model in zebrafish and ethanol-induced acute GU model in rat were established to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and ulcer inhibitory effects of ATR. Then, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics analysis were performed to investigate the effect of ATR on the microbiota and metabolites in rat feces and their correlation.

Results

Therapeutically, ATR inhibited H. pylori-induced gastric mucosal injury in zebrafish. In the ulceration model of rat, ATR mitigated the gastric lesions damage caused by ethanol, decreased the ulcer area, and reduced the production of inflammatory factors. Additionally, ATR alleviated the gastric oxidative stress injury by increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreasing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, ATR played a positive role in relieving ulcer through reshaping gut microbiota composition including Parabacteroides and Bacteroides and regulating the levels of metabolites including amino acids, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and bile acids.

Conclusion

Our work sheded light on the mechanism of ATR treating GU from the perspective of the gut microbiota and explored the correlation between gut microbiota, metabolites, and host phenotype.

Natural and Engineered Nanomaterials for the Identification of Heavy Metal Ions—A Review

In recent years, there has been much interest in developing advanced and innovative approaches for sensing applications in various fields, including agriculture and environmental remediation. The development of novel sensors for detecting heavy metals using nanomaterials has emerged as a rapidly developing research area due to its high availability and sustainability. This review emphasized the naturally derived and engineered nanomaterials that have the potential to be applied as sensing reagents to interact with metal ions or as reducing and stabilizing agents to synthesize metallic nanoparticles for the detection of heavy metal ions. This review also focused on the recent advancement of nanotechnology-based detection methods using naturally derived and engineered materials, with a summary of their sensitivity and selectivity towards heavy metals. This review paper covers the pros and cons of sensing applications with recent research published from 2015 to 2022.

Bioactive polysaccharides and oligosaccharides from garlic (Allium sativum L.): Production, physicochemical and biological properties, and structure-function relationships

Garlic is a common food, and many of its biological functions are attributed to its components including functional carbohydrates. Garlic polysaccharides and oligosaccharides as main components are understudied but have future value due to the growing demand for bioactive polysaccharides/oligosaccharides from natural sources. Garlic polysaccharides have molecular weights of 1 × 10³ to 2 × 10⁶  Da, containing small amounts of pectins and fructooligosaccharides and large amounts of inulin-type fructans ((2→1)-linked β-d-Fruf backbones alone or with attached (2→6)-linked β-d-Fruf branched chains). This article provides a detailed review of research progress and identifies knowledge gaps in extraction, production, composition, molecular characteristics, structural features, physicochemical properties, bioactivities, and structure-function relationships of garlic polysaccharides/oligosaccharides. Whether the extraction processes, synthesis approaches, and modification methods established for other non-garlic polysaccharides are also effective for garlic polysaccharides/oligosaccharides (to preserve their desired molecular structures and bioactivities) requires verification. The metabolic processes of ingested garlic polysaccharides/oligosaccharides (as food ingredients/dietary supplements), their modes of action in healthy humans or populations with chronic conditions, and molecular/chain organization-bioactivity relationships remain unclear. Future research directions related to garlic polysaccharides/oligosaccharides are discussed.

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.

Hepatoprotective effect and structural analysis of Hedysarum polysaccharides in vivo and in vitro

The crude Hedysarum polysaccharides (HPS: HPS-50 and HPS-80) obtained from Radix Hedysari exhibited great pharmacological activities in our previous research. This study investigated the effects of HPS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice and LPS-induced injury in LO2 cells, as well as the relationship between structural characteristics and hepatoprotective activities. The in vivo results showed that compared with HPS-80, HPS-50 showed stronger hepatoprotection, which improved histopathological changes to normal levels. HPS-50 significantly decreased the levels of ALT, AST, MPO, and MDA, increased the activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH, and suppressed the LPS/D-GalN-triggered production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (p < .05). The results in vitro showed that HPS-50-P (HPS-50-1, HPS-50-2, and HPS-50-3) purified from HPS-50 played significant protective roles against LPS-induced injury in LO2 cells by reducing cell apoptosis and relieving cell cycle arrest. HPS-50-2 restored the percentage of normal cells from 54.8% to 94.7%, and reduced the S phase cells from 59.40% to 47.05% (p < .01). By analyzing the structure of HPS-50-P, including monosaccharide composition, molecular weight, chain conformation, and surface morphology, we speculated that the best protective effect of HPS-50-2 might be attributed to its beta configuration, highest molecular weight, and high glucose and galactose contents. These findings indicate that HPS-50 might be a promising source of functional foods for the protection and prevention of ALI. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In this study, the protective effect of HPS on ALI was evaluated from multiple perspectives, and HPS-50-2 was screened as a potential active ingredient. This study has two practical applications. First, it provides a new way to improve ALI, and a new option for patients to prevent and treat ALI. Second, this work also complements the pharmacological activity of Radix Hedysari and provides a basis for the development of Radix Hedysari as a functional food.

Isolation, structures and bioactivities of the polysaccharides from Radix Hedysari: A review

Radix Hedysari, a well-known traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has a long history as a medicinal plant in China based on its wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities. Until now, many chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from Radix Hedysari, such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, trace elements and so on. Of these, Radix Hedysari polysaccharides are one of the most important active compounds of the Radix Hedysari and have various biological activities, including anti-tumor activity, antioxidant activity, anti-diabetic activity, immunity enhancement effect and regulation of intestinal flora. These beneficial biological activities are related to the chemical structure of the Radix Hedysari polysaccharides. The chemical structure of HPS is the basis of its biological activity, which is affected by many factors, such as the composition of monosaccharide, the size of relative molecular weight, the way of glycoside bond connection, the three-dimensional structure of polysaccharide, and so on. Different extraction and separation methods lead to different configurations of polysaccharides and different biological activities of polysaccharides. In general, the bioactivity of polysaccharides showed a certain dose-response or structure-activity relationship. At present, few studies of regarding the structure-function relationships of these polysaccharides have been reported, and it is not easy to relate the structures of HPS to their biological activities. Nevertheless, some relationships can be inferred as follows. This article is aimed to provide a systematic and up-to-date review on the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and biological activities of the Radix Hedysari polysaccharides to support its further therapeutic potentials and sanitarian functions. Furthermore, the possible development and a perspective for future research of Radix Hedysari polysaccharides are also discussed.

Green synthesis, characterization of Radix Hedysari-mediated silver nanoparticles and their use for sensitive colorimetric detection of Pb2+ in the Yellow River medium

In this study, a safe, rapid, and environment-friendly green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the alcohol extract of Radix Hedysari (RH-AgNPs) was developed, the alcohol extract of Radix Hedysari (RH) acted as the reducing agent, stabilizer, and modifier. The main components of RH were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The particle size and morphology of RH-AgNPs were optimized and characterized by a series of techniques. The size distribution, zeta potential, element distribution, and crystalline nature of RH-AgNPs were all determined. It was indicated that RH-AgNPs showed great sensitivity for lead ion (Pb²⁺) detection with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.5 μM with a wide range of 10-500 μM. The selectivity was also explored for common metal ions. RH-AgNPs were then applied to the detection of Pb²⁺ in spiked Yellow River samples, and the possible mechanism is based on the crosslinking reaction between the hydroxide radical, carboxylate radical and Pb²⁺.

Gastric acid-response chitosan/alginate/tilapia collagen peptide composite hydrogel: Protection effects on alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury

Long-term excessive alcohol intake can easily lead to gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric bleeding. In this paper, the gastric acid-responsive hydrogel of CS-NAC/alginate/tilapia collagen peptide (CS-NAC/ALG/TCP) was developed. Its structure and properties were determined. The alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury models in mice were established to evaluate the protective effects of CS-NAC/ALG/TCP. The results showed that CS-NAC/ALG/TCP was successfully fabricated, and it showed a sustained release of TCP, strong mucoadhesion, and excellent biodegradability in vitro. In the animal experiments, CS-NAC/ALG/TCP improved the oxidative stress status of the gastric mucosa by increasing the levels of SOD, GSH, and CAT in tissues. It also down-regulated the expression of MPO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and increased the production of gastric protective factors such as PGE2 and NO in mouse stomach, thereby reducing the alcohol-induced inflammation and protecting the gastric mucosal injury. Besides, CS-NAC/ALG/TCP can also increase the activities of alcohol metabolism enzymes to improve alcohol metabolism, thereby reducing alcoholic damage. In conclusion, CS-NAC/ALG/TCP is a promising candidate for the treatment of alcohol-induced gastric injury.

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.

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.

Protective effect of against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and its mechanism

: To investigate the protective effect of (FD) against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and its mechanism. : Human gastric epithelial GES-1 cells were divided into normal control group, model control group, FD 95% alcohol extract group, FD 50% alcohol extract group and FD decoction extract group. Gastric ulcer was induced by treatment with 1% ethanol in GES-1 cells. The cell proliferation was detected with MTT method in each group. Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group, ranitidine group and low-dose, medium-dose, high-dose FD 95% alcohol extract groups (150, 300, 600 mg/kg). The corresponding drugs were administrated by gavage for The gastric ulcer model was induced by intragastric administration of anhydrous ethanol. The gastric ulcer area and ulcer inhibition rate of rats were measured in each group; the degree of gastricmucosal damage was observed by scanning electron microscopy; the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β in serum and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) in gastric tissues were detected by ELISA method. : 95% alcohol extract of FD had the strongest protective effect on proliferation of GES-1 cells. In animal experiments, compared with the normal control group, a large area of ulcers appeared on the gastric mucosa in the model control group, while the ulcer areas of the FD groups and ranitidine group were significantly smaller than that of the model control group (all <0.05). Compared with the model control group, FD groups and ranitidine group significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 in serum and the MDA content in the gastric tissues, and increased the activity of SOD, CAT and GSH in gastric tissues (all <0.05). : The 95% alcohol extract of FD can reduce the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in serum and the content of MDA in gastric tissues, and increase the activity of SOD, CAT and GSH in gastric tissues to achieve the protective effect against gastric ulcer.

Anti-ulcerogenic effect of methanolic extract of Elaeagnus conferta Roxb. seeds in Wistar rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Elaeagnus conferta Roxb. (Elaeagnaceae) is a subtropical shrub mainly native to India, Vietnam, Malaysia and South China, whose various parts are used for treatment of diabetes, gastric ulcers, pain, oxidative stress and pulmonary disorders. Though the other parts of the plant have been reported for their ethnic use i.e. fruits as astringent locally and for cancer systemically, leaves for body pain and flowers for pain in chest and the seeds are mentioned as edible, there is no report per se on the medicinal use of seeds. Based on the fact that seeds of closely resembling species i.e. Elaeagnus rhamnoides has demonstrated significant anti-gastroulcerative property, the probability of the seeds of E. conferta possessing similar activity seemed quite significant.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Phytochemical investigation and assessment of pharmacological mechanism(s) involved in anti-ulcer effect of methanolic extract of the seeds of E. conferta.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bioactive phytoconstituents were isolated by column chromatography. These were identified by spectroscopic techniques including infrared (IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry. Methanolic extract (MEC) of the seeds was prepared by cold maceration and its anti-ulcerogenic potential was evaluated using indomethacin (50 mg/kg) and water immersion stress models in male rats. The animals were pre-treated with different doses of MEC (400 and 800 mg/kg) and the therapeutic effect was compared with standard drug i.e. ranitidine (RANT; 50 mg/kg). The ameliorative effects of MEC were investigated on gastric juice pH, total acidity, free acidity and ulcer index. The assays of malionaldehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and pro-inflammatory cytokines i.e. interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were carried out to find out the possible mechanism(s) of protection. Further, histopathological changes were also studied.

RESULTS

Chromatography studies and further confirmation by spectroscopic techniques revealed the presence of four different compounds in MEC i.e oleic acid (1), stearic acid (2), ascorbic acid (3) and quercetin (4). MEC exhibited anti-ulcerogenic effect in dose dependent manner which may be attributed to suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and MDA (112.7%), and up-regulation of protective factors such as CAT (90.48%), SOD (92.77%) and GSH (90.01%). Ulcer inhibition, reduction in total and free acidity and increase in gastric juice pH were observed in MEC treated rats as compared to disease control animals. Histopathological findings confirmed decreased cell infiltration, less epithelial cell damage and regeneration of gastric mucosa in dose dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

The anti-ulcer effect of MEC may be attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals and anti-inflammatory property via suppression of TNF-α and IL-6, thus offers a complete and holistic approach for management of peptic ulcer.

Gastroprotective effects of Nelumbinis Rhizomatis Nodus-derived carbon dots on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats

Aim: To evaluate the gastroprotective effects of Nelumbinis Rhizomatis Nodus carbon dots (NRN-CDs) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Materials & methods: NRN-CDs synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet, fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and zeta potential analyzer. Their gastroprotective effects toward ethanol-induced gastric ulcers were evaluated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Results: NRN-CDs showed an average diameter of 2.33 ± 0.42 nm and a lattice spacing of 0.29 nm. Pretreatment with NRN-CDs significantly decreased the ulcer index and attenuated the severity of gastric mucosal damage, indicating that NRN-CDs exerted potent gastric protective effect. Moreover, the gastroprotection effect was related to the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors. Conclusion: NRN-CDs could be developed as a potential drug for the treatment of gastric ulcers.

Protective Effects of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis Carbonisata-Based Carbon Dots Against Ethanol-Induced Acute Gastric Ulcer in Rats: Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities

AIM

To explore the effects of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis carbonisata-based carbon dots (RSFC-CDs) on an ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer rat model.

METHODS

The structure, optical properties, functional groups and elemental composition of RSFC-CDs synthesized by one-step pyrolysis were characterized. The gastric protective effects of RSFC-CDs were evaluated and confirmed by applying a rat model of ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcers. The underlying mechanisms were investigated through the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway and oxidative stress.

RESULTS

RSFC-CDs with a diameter ranging from 2-3 nm mainly showed gastric protective effects by reducing the levels of NF-κB, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) to inhibit ethanol-induced inflammation and oxidative stress.

CONCLUSION

RSFC-CDs have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, making them promising for application in ethanol-induced gastric injury.

Optimization of Extraction and Purification of Polysaccharides from Veronicastrum axillare, and Evaluation of Their Biological Activities

Veronicastrum axillare polysaccharides (VAP) were isolated by cellulase-assisted digestion. The optimum conditions (2 % cellulase, 47 °C for 2.5 h, then, 95 °C for 2.5 h, pH 4.1, solid/liquid ratio 1 : 7.6) were identified by a combination of single factor optimization and response surface DOE (design of experiment) methods, and achieved a yield of 4.7 %. Treatment with 1 % TCA for 10 min, then, 2 % DEAE-cellulose removed protein and colored impurities. Purified VAP retained most of the radical-scavenging activities and GES-1 cell protection capability in vitro, indicating VAP were the key active components of V. axillare. Some molecular features were identified by FT-IR and NMR analyses. The molecular weight was estimated from DOSY NMR experiments to be around 21 kDa. There were 6.3 % uronic acid residues in the VAP. The constituent sugars after TFA hydrolysis were identified by HPLC to include glucose, arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, and xylose in a molar ratio of 405 : 259 : 82 : 42 : 1.

The amelioration of ulcerative colitis induced by Dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid with Radix Hedysari

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an unknown precise etiology. This study proves that Radix Hedysari (RH) ameliorates UC. Four RH extracts were used to ameliorate UC induced by 2,4-Dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid by 7 days intervention in agreement to preliminary studies. Compared to treatment with RH extracts, the RH ethanol extract (EE) was found to be more effective in ameliorating UC. With EE, the DAI were significantly decreased. Macroscopic and histopathological assessments suggest that the colon mucosa was repaired, the organizational structure of the colon had been rebuilt. The levels of MPO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and MDA were significantly decreased (p < .01), the levels of T-SOD and CAT were significantly increased (p < .01). Moreover, the compounds in EE were analyzed by HPLC. The results show that EE can ameliorate UC, and its anti-inflammatory capability probably plays an important role. RH can act as a functional food and ameliorate UC. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In this work, the ameliorative effect of RH on UC was evaluated from multiple angles. There are two practical applications of this work. On the one hand, a new approach to ameliorating UC is provided by this work. In addition, UC patients have a new option for improving their symptoms. On the other hand, this work also provides information on how best to process RH for therapeutic use. In addition, we can utilize some compounds of RH that were once considered useless and reduce the waste of natural resources.

Human-like collagen promotes the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats by regulating NOS and growth factors

Human-like collagen (HLC), the collagen produced using fermentation technology, has been demonstrated previously to promote wound healing. However, the healing property of HLC in gastric ulcers remains to be verified. In this study, we investigated the healing efficacy and healing mechanisms of HLC on gastric ulcers. To investigate whether HLC still has healing activity on gastric ulcers after gastric digestion, we simulated gastric digestion in vitro to obtain a human-like collagen digestion product (HLCP) and used it as the control drug. A chronic gastric ulcer model induced by 60% acetic acid in rats was used to evaluate the healing effect of gastric ulcers in this study. The results showed that oral administration of HLC or HLCP for 4 or 7 days promoted ulcer healing, which can be directly observed by significant reductions in ulcer area. The oral administration of HLC and HLCP significantly increased the protein expression of growth factors (EGF, HGF, VEGF, bFGF and TGF-β1) and the HGF receptor (HGFr), promoted collagen deposition, regulated the activity of NOS, and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, il-6, il-10) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in gastric tissue. Moreover, cell experiments showed that the effects of HLC on cell proliferation and migration are mainly caused by its digestion products. These findings indicate that HLC may be used as a nutritional supplement or therapeutic drug to promote the healing of gastric ulcers.

Formononetin in Radix Hedysari extract-mediated green synthesis of gold nanoparticles for colorimetric detection of ferrous ions in tap water

This study linked natural plant materials and nanomaterials; reporting an environmentally friendly, non-toxic and efficient method for the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using an ethyl acetate extract of Radix Hedysari (EAR). The components of the extract were identified using HPLC and it was found that formononetin accounted for more than 90% of the total contents. We predicted that formononetin in EAR plays a crucial role in green synthesis. Thus, formononetin was used as a standard reductant to synthesize AuNPs, and the result confirmed our prediction. The synthetic mechanism was also discussed in detail in the article. Moreover, EAR–AuNPs realized the sensitive and selective colorimetric detection of ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) among other metal ions, and were applied to spiked tap water with a low detection limit of 1.5 μM in a wide range from 10 μM to 500 μM. EAR–AuNPs were green synthesized using Radix Hedysari extract for the first time and were successfully applied in real sample detection.

AuNPs were synthesized using Radix Hedysari extract and used for the sensitive and selective detection of Fe²⁺.