Elbadawi M, Ammar RM, Aziz-Kalbhenn H, Rabini S, Klauck SM, Dawood M, Saeed MEM, Kampf CJ, Efferth T. Anti-inflammatory and tight junction protective activity of the herbal preparation STW 5-II on mouse intestinal organoids.
PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021;
88:153589. [PMID:
34111617 DOI:
10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153589]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder, in which recurrent abdominal pain is associated with defecation or a change in bowel habits. STW 5-II is a combination of six medicinal herbs with a clinically proven efficacy in managing IBS.
AIM
This study aims to establish an in vitro IBS model using mouse intestinal organoids and to explore the anti-inflammatory and tight junction protective activities of the multi-herbal preparation STW 5-II.
METHODS
Intestinal organoids were cultured in 1:1 Matrigel™ and medium domes. Inflammation and tight junction disruption were induced by a cocktail of cytokines (TNFα, IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-6) and bacterial proteins (LPS, flagellin). Organoids were treated with different concentrations of STW 5-II, and its multi-target activity was assessed using microarray analyses, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and a FITC permeability assay. In addition, we analyzed the expression of pNF-κB, pSTAT1, iNOS and ZO-1. In silico analyses were conducted to predict and identify the active components that may be responsible in mediating the multi-target anti-inflammatory activity of STW 5-II.
RESULTS
An organoid based IBS model was successfully established. STW 5-II effectively reduced the cytokines-induced overexpression of the pro-inflammatory mediators pNF-κB, pSTAT1 and iNOS. Moreover, STW 5-II attenuated cytokine-mediated downregulation of the tight junction protein, ZO-1. This finding was confirmed by a FITC permeability assay. In silico analyses revealed a promising inhibitory activity of some isolated compounds from STW 5-II against NF-κB, STAT1 and iNOS.
CONCLUSION
STW 5-II possesses multiple anti-inflammatory as well as tight junction protective activities that could explain its clinically proven efficacy in managing IBS symptoms.
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