Protecting effects of emodin on multiorgan failure of rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and its anthraquinone derivatives: Potential candidates for pancreatitis treatment

BACKGROUND

Pancreatitis is a common exocrine inflammatory disease of the pancreas and lacks specific medication currently. Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (RR) and its anthraquinone derivatives (AQs) have been successively reported for their pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms in experimental and clinical pancreatitis. However, an overview of the anti-pancreatitis potential of RR and its AQs is limited.

PURPOSE

To summarize and analyze the pharmacological effects of RR and its AQs on pancreatitis and the underlying mechanisms, and discuss their drug-like properties and future perspectives.

METHODS

The articles related to RR and its AQs were collected from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang data, PubMed, and the Web of Science using relevant keywords from the study's inception until April first, 2024. Studies involving RR or its AQs in cell or animal pancreatitis models as well as structure-activity relationship, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and clinical trials were included.

RESULTS

Most experimental studies are based on severe acute pancreatitis rat models and a few on chronic pancreatitis. Several bioactive anthraquinone derivatives of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (RRAQs) exert local protective effects on the pancreas by maintaining pancreatic acinar cell homeostasis, inhibiting inflammatory signaling, and anti-fibrosis, and they improve systemic organ function by alleviating intestinal and lung injury. Pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies have revealed the low bioavailability and wide distribution of RRAQs, as well as hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. However, there is insufficient research on the clinical application of RRAQs in pancreatitis. Furthermore, we propose effective strategies for subsequent improvement in terms of balancing effectiveness and safety.

CONCLUSION

RRAQs can be developed as either candidate drugs or novel lead structures for pancreatitis treatment. The comprehensive review of RR and its AQs provides references for optimizing drugs, developing therapies, and conducting future studies on pancreatitis.

Effect of emodin on long non-coding RNA-mRNA networks in rats with severe acute pancreatitis-induced acute lung injury

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to disease pathogenesis and drug treatment effects. Both emodin and dexamethasone (DEX) have been used for treating severe acute pancreatitis-associated acute lung injury (SAP-ALI). However, lncRNA regulation networks related to SAP-ALI pathogenesis and drug treatment are unreported. In this study, lncRNAs and mRNAs in the lung tissue of SAP-ALI and control rats, with or without drug treatment (emodin or DEX), were assessed by RNA sequencing. Results showed both emodin and DEX were therapeutic for SAP-ALI and that mRNA and lncRNA levels differed between untreated and treated SAP-ALI rats. Gene expression profile relationships for emodin-treated and control rats were higher than DEX-treated and -untreated animals. By comparison of control and SAP-ALI animals, more up-regulated than down-regulated mRNAs and lncRNAs were observed with emodin treatment. For DEX treatment, more down-regulated than up-regulated mRNAs and lncRNAs were observed. Functional analysis demonstrated both up-regulated mRNA and co-expressed genes with up-regulated lncRNAs were enriched in inflammatory and immune response pathways. Further, emodin-associated lncRNAs and mRNAs co-expressed modules were different from those associated with DEX. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrates selected lncRNA and mRNA co-expressed modules were different in the lung tissue of emodin- and DEX-treated rats. Also, emodin had different effects compared with DEX on co-expression network of lncRNAs Rn60_7_1164.1 and AABR07062477.2 for the blue lncRNA module and Nrp1 for the green mRNA module. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that emodin may be a suitable alternative or complementary medicine for treating SAP-ALI.

Phytoceuticals in Acute Pancreatitis: Targeting the Balance between Apoptosis and Necrosis

Despite recent advances in understanding the complex pathogenesis of pancreatitis, the management of the disease remains suboptimal. The use of phytoceuticals (plant-derived pleiotropic multitarget molecules) represents a new research trend in pancreatology. The purpose of this review is to discuss the phytoceuticals with pancreatoprotective potential in acute pancreatitis and whose efficacy is based, at least in part, on their capacity to modulate the acinar cell death. The phytochemicals selected, belonging to such diverse classes as polyphenols, flavonoids, lignans, anthraquinones, sesquiterpene lactones, nitriles, and alkaloids, target the balance between apoptosis and necrosis. Activation of apoptosis via various mechanisms (e.g., inhibition of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis proteins by embelin, upregulation of FasL gene expression by resveratrol) and/or inhibition of necrosis seem to represent the essential key for decreasing the severity of the disease. Apart from targeting the apoptosis/necrosis balance, the phytochemicals displayed other specific protective activities: inhibition of inflammasome (e.g., rutin), suppression of neutrophil infiltration (e.g., ligustrazine, resveratrol), and antioxidant activity. Even though many of the selected phytoceuticals represent a promising therapeutic alternative, there is a shortage of human evidence, and further studies are required to provide solid basis to justify their use in the treatment of pancreatitis.

Perspectives of traditional Chinese medicine in pancreas protection for acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common diseases. AP is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but it lacks specific and effective therapies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the most popular complementary and alternative medicine modalities worldwide for the treatment of AP. The current evidence from basic research and clinical studies has shown that TCM has good therapeutic effects on AP. This review summarizes the widely used formulas, single herbs and monomers that are used to treat AP and the potential underlying mechanisms of TCM. Because of the abundance, low cost, and safety of TCM as well as its ability to target various aspects of the pathogenesis, TCM provides potential clinical benefits and a new avenue with tremendous potential for the future treatment of AP.

Add-on effect of crude rhubarb to somatostatin for acute pancreatitis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rhubarb is one of the common herbs used in traditional Chinese complex prescriptions for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. We sought to determine the add-on effect of crude rhubarb to somatostatin in patients with acute pancreatitis by conducting a meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP databases up to November 2015. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing crude rhubarb plus somatostatin to somatostatin alone for acute pancreatitis were included. Risk ratio (RR) or weighted mean difference (WMD) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated between with and without crude rhubarb therapy.

RESULTS

A total of 19 RCTs involving 1161 patients were identified. Compared with somatostatin alone, crude rhubarb plus somatostatin significantly reduced the total complications (RR 0.55; 95% CI 0.41-0.73) and APACHE Ⅱ scores (WMD -1.16; 95% CI -1.91 to -0.41) as well as shortened the duration of elevated serum amylase (WMD -2.01 days; 95% CI -2.57 to -1.44), duration of abdominal pain (WMD -1.33 days; 95% CI -1.61 to -1.05), the first defecation time (WMD -2.27 days; 95% CI -3.06 to -1.47), and duration of hospital stay (WMD -6.70 days; 95% CI -8.81 to -4.60). However, there were no significant differences in total mortality rates (RR 0.61; 95% CI 0.34 to 1.12) between two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Crude rhubarb as adjuvant therapy to somatostatin appears to have additional benefits in patients with acute pancreatitis. However, interpretation of these results should be cautioned due to the methodological flaws.

Protective Effects of Emodin-Induced Neutrophil Apoptosis via the Ca2+-Caspase 12 Pathway against SIRS in Rats with Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) results in high mortality. This is partly because of early multiple organ dysfunction syndromes that are usually caused by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Many studies have reported the beneficial effects of emodin against SAP with SIRS. However, the exact mechanism underlying the effect of emodin remains unclear. This study was designed to explore the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of emodin against SIRS in rats with SAP. In the present study, cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels, calpain 1 activity, and the expression levels of the active fragments of caspases 12 and 3 decreased in neutrophils from rats with SAP and increased after treatment with emodin. Delayed neutrophil apoptosis occurred in rats with SAP and emodin was able to reverse this delayed apoptosis and inhibit SIRS. The effect of emodin on calpain 1 activity, the expression levels of the active fragments of caspases 12 and 3, neutrophil apoptosis, and SIRS scores were attenuated by PD150606 (an inhibitor of calpain). These results suggest that emodin inhibits SIRS in rats with SAP by inducing circulating neutrophil apoptosis via the Ca²⁺-calpain 1-caspase 12-caspase 3 signaling pathway.

Emodin protects from deoxycholic acid-induced AR42J cell damage

AIM: To investigate whether emodin exerts a protect effect against deoxycholic acid (DCA)-induced cell damage in rat pancreatic acinar cell line AR42J.

METHODS: AR42J cells were divided into five groups: normal control cells, cells treated with 0.4 or 0.8 mmol/L DCA, and those treated with 0.4 or 0.8 mmol/L DCA plus emodin (20 mg/L). The rates of apoptosis and necrosis were detected by flow cytometry and AV/PI double staining. The activity of amylase in the medium and cytoplasm was determined.

RESULTS: DCA at a dose of 0.4 mmol/L mainly induced the apoptosis of AR42J cells, while 0.8 mmol/L of DCA induced the necrosis of AR42J cells. Emodin significantly reduced DCA-induced late apoptosis (27.9% vs 34.1%) and necrosis (38.1% vs 45.4%), but did not significantly change the activity of amylase in the medium and cytoplasm of AR42J cells.

CONCLUSION: Emodin has some protective effects against DCA-induced AR42J cell damage, but does not influence amylase synthesis and secretion by acinar cells.