Effects of combination treatment with famotidine and methylmethionine sulfonium chloride on the mucus barrier of rat gastric mucosa

Gastrointestinal disorders in post-COVID syndrome. Clinical guidelines

Summary Post- COVID syndrome refers to the long-term consequences of a new coronavirus infection COVID-19, which includes a set of symptoms that develop or persist after COVID-19. Symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders in post- COVID syndrome, due to chronic infl ammation, the consequences of organ damage, prolonged hospitalization, social isolation, and other causes, can be persistent and require a multidisciplinary approach. The presented clinical practice guidelines consider the main preventive and therapeutic and diagnostic approaches to the management of patients with gastroenterological manifestations of postCOVID syndrome. The Guidelines were approved by the 17th National Congress of Internal Medicine and the 25th Congress of Gastroenterological Scientifi c Society of Russia.

Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. Alleviates Indomethacin-Induced Acute Gastric Injury by Enhancing Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity

Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (white cabbage) is a valuable vegetable with diverse nutraceutical benefit. Present study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of B. oleracea extract (BOE) standardized by vitamin U on indomethacin (IND)-induced acute gastric injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pre-administration of three different doses of BOE (12.5–50 mg/kg) for 14 days significantly decreased visible ulcerative lesions in the gastric tissue. In addition, BOE alleviated IND-mediated increase in histological score with inhibiting invaded percentage of lesion and restoring mucosa thickness in peri-ulcerative region. BOE increased the gastric tissue bound to Alcian blue and inhibited the decrease in hexose, sialic acid, and collagen levels by IND, suggesting that BOE protects the gastric tissue through preserving mucus and mucosal integrity. Moreover, BOE pre-administration blocked the reduction of prostaglandin E2 and down-regulated histamine and mRNA expression related to secret gastric acid. Furthermore, BOE mitigated inflammatory responses in the gastric tissue by decreasing activity of myeloperoxidase and expression of nuclear factor-κB-dependent inflammatory genes. BOE also suppressed malondialdehyde with preventing the reduction of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the gastric tissue. Therefore, results from present study suggest that BOE will have a potential for preventing gastric injury.

Brassica oleracea Prevents HCl/Ethanol-Induced Gastric Damages in Mice

Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (cabbage) is a popular vegetable with a wide range of pharmacological activities that help to promote human health. The present study investigated the beneficial effects of B. oleracea var. capitata L. extract (BOE) on HCl/ethanol (H/E)-induced gastric damages in mice. Pre-administration of BOE (25–100 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days significantly decreased macroscopically visible lesion on the gastric mucosa induced by H/E. In addition, results from hematoxylin and eosin-stained gastric tissue showed that BOE inhibited invaded percentage of lesion and prevented the reduction in mucosal thickness in peri-ulcerative region. BOE significantly alleviated the H/E-mediated decreases in Alcian blue binding, total hexose, sialic acid, and collagen in the gastric tissue, suggesting BOE attenuates the gastric damage via preserving the integrity of gastric mucus. Moreover, BOE significantly decreased histamine level in the plasma and reduced mRNA levels associated with secreting gastric acid. Furthermore, BOE inhibited myeloperoxidase activity and suppressed nuclear factor-κB mRNA and its dependent inflammatory genes expression induced by H/E. BOE also strengthened antioxidant enzyme activity, with a mitigating H/E-mediated increase in malondialdehyde level of the gastric tissue. Thus, these results suggest that BOE has the potential to protect the gastric tissue via inhibiting gastric acid secretion, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Effect of Enhancers on in vitro and in vivo Skin Permeation and Deposition of S-Methyl-L-Methionine

S-methyl-l-methionine (SMM), also known as vitamin U, is commercially available as skin care cosmetic products for its wound healing and photoprotective effects. However, the low skin permeation expected of SMM due to its hydrophilic nature with a log P value of −3.3, has not been thoroughly addressed. The purpose of this study thus was to evaluate the effect of skin permeation enhancers on the skin permeation/deposition of SMM. Among the enhancers tested for the in vitro skin permeation and deposition of SMM, oleic acid showed the most significant enhancing effect. Moreover, the combination of oleic acid and ethanol further enhanced in vitro permeation and deposition of SMM through hairless mouse skin. Furthermore, the combination of oleic acid and ethanol significantly increased the in vivo deposition of SMM in the epidermis/dermis for 12 hr, which was high enough to exert a therapeutic effect. Therefore, based on the in vitro and in vivo studies, the combination of oleic acid and ethanol was shown to be effective in improving the topical skin delivery of SMM, which may be applied in the cosmetic production process for SMM.

Determination of S-methyl-L-methionine (SMM) from Brassicaceae Family Vegetables and Characterization of the Intestinal Transport of SMM by Caco-2 Cells

The objectives of the current study were to determine S-methyl-L-methionine (SMM) from various Brassicaceae family vegetables by using validated analytical method and to characterize the intestinal transport mechanism of SMM by the Caco-2 cells. The SMM is well known to provide therapeutic activity in peptic ulcers. The amount of SMM from various Brassicaceae family vegetables ranged from 89.08 ± 1.68 μg/g to 535.98 ± 4.85 μg/g of dry weight by using validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry method. For elucidating intestinal transport mechanism, the cells were incubated with or without transport inhibitors, energy source, or a metabolic inhibitor. Phloridzin and verapamil as inhibitors of sodium glucose transport protein (SGLT1) and P-glycoprotein, respectively, were not responsible for cellular uptake of SMM. Glucose and sodium azide were not affected by the cellular accumulation of SMM. The efflux ratio of SMM was 0.26, implying that it is not effluxed through Caco-2 cells. The apparent coefficient permeability (P_app ) of SMM was 4.69 × 10^-5 cm/s, indicating that it will show good oral absorption in in vivo.

The Photoprotective Effect of S-Methylmethionine Sulfonium in Skin

S-Methylmethionine sulfonium (SMMS) was reported to have wound-healing effects; we therefore have investigated the photoprotective effect of SMMS in the present study. SMMS increased the viability of keratinocyte progenitor cells (KPCs) and human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) following ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation, and reduced the UVB-induced apoptosis in these cells. SMMS increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and the inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway significantly decreased the SMMS-induced viability of KPCs and hDFs. In addition, SMMS attenuated the UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in KPCs and hDFs. SMMS induced the collagen synthesis and reduced the matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression in UVB-irradiated hDFs. In animal studies, application of 5% and 10% SMMS before and after UVB-irradiation significantly decreased the UVB-induced erythema index and depletion of Langerhans cells. In summary, SMMS protects KPCs and hDFs from UVB irradiation, and reduces UVB-induced skin erythema and immune suppression. Therefore, SMMS can be used as a cosmetic raw material, and protect skin from UVB.

Elemental diet moderates 5-fluorouracil-induced gastrointestinal mucositis through mucus barrier alteration

PURPOSE

There are reports that elemental diet (ED) ameliorates oral mucositis caused by antineoplastic chemotherapy. Although this effectiveness may be partly due to high nutrient absorption, the effects of chemotherapy on mucosal defense mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the effects of oral supplementation with ED on mucin in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis.

METHODS

5-FU was administered to rats orally once daily, and ED was supplied orally twice daily for 5 days. The severity of mucositis was assessed by length, dry tissue weight, and villus height of the intestinal tract. Using anti-mucin monoclonal antibody, we compared the immunoreactivity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and mucin content by histological and biochemical examinations.

RESULTS

Oral supplementation with ED reduced histological damage and loss of length, dry tissue weight, and villus height induced by 5-FU administration. ED markedly altered PGM34 antibody immunoreactivity and mucin contents in the small intestine of rats with 5-FU-induced mucositis.

CONCLUSIONS

ED may possibly be more effective for the prevention of antineoplastic chemotherapy-induced mucositis through the activation of GI mucus cells.

Gastroprotective Effects of Glutinous Rice Extract against Ethanol-, Indomethacin-, and Stress-induced Ulcers in Rats

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of an orally administered aqueous extract of glutinous rice (GRE) to protect against acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by ethanol, indomethacin, and water immersion restraint stress in rats and to characterize the active substances responsible for the protection. GRE was shown to dose-dependently prevent the gastric lesions induced by the above ulcerogenic treatments at doses of 30 to 300 mg/kg. GRE treatment increased the gastric mucin content and partially blocked the ethanol-induced depletion of the gastric mucus layer. Also, it increased the nonprotein sulfhydryl concentration in the gastric mucosa. The gastroprotective action of GRE was markedly enhanced by co-treatment with 4-8 mg/kg tea extracts. The activity of GRE was completely lost by heat treatment at 80℃ for 3 min or treatment with 0.01% pepsin at 37℃ for 1 h. Protein extraction studies indicated that prolamins are involved in the gastroprotective activity of GRE. Our results suggest that glutinous rice proteins are useful for the prevention and treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer.

Digestive recovery of sulfur-methyl-L-methionine and its bioaccessibility in Kimchi cabbages using a simulated in vitro digestion model system

BACKGROUND

Sulfur-methyl-L-methionine (SMM) has been known to provide various biological functions such as radical scavenging effect, inhibition of adipocyte differentiation, and prevention of gastric mucosal damage. Kimchi cabbages are known to be a major food source providing SMM but its bioaccessibility has not been studied. The objective of current study was to determine both the digestive stability of SMM and the amount released from Kimchi cabbages under a simulated in vitro digestion model system.

RESULTS

The in vitro digestion model system simulating a human gastrointestinal tract was carried out for measuring digestive recovery and bioaccessibility of SMM. SMM was quantified by using high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector. Recovery of an SMM standard after digestion was 0.68 and 0.65% for fasted and fed conditions, respectively, indicating that the digestive stability of the SMM standard was not affected by dietary energy or co-ingested food matrix. The SMM standard was also significantly stable in acidic pH (P < 0.05). The bioaccessibility of SMM from Kimchi cabbages was measured under a fasted condition, resulted in 8.83, 14.71 and 10.88%, for salivary, gastric and small intestinal phases, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Results from our study suggest that SMM from Kimchi cabbages, a component of food sources, is more bioavailable than SMM by itself.

Intragastrically administered lysophosphatidic acids protect against gastric ulcer in rats under water-immersion restraint stress

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Lysophosphatidic acid exerts important physiological effects on many types of animal cells through its specific binding to several G protein-coupled receptors. In particular, its potent wound-healing effect has attracted much attention. To determine whether lysophosphatidic acids in a foodstuff and Chinese medicine are effective in protecting against gastric ulcer, we subjected rats to water-immersion restraint stress.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Three direct administrations of a solution of lysophosphatidic acid with a C18 fatty acyl group to the rat stomach in a concentration range of 0.001-0.1 mM resulted in a significant reduction in the number of gastric ulcers induced during water-immersion restraint stress, and the potencies were as follows: linoleoyl species=α-linolenoyl species>oleoyl species. Intragastric administrations of a solution of highly purified lysophosphatidic acid from soybean lecithin significantly protected against the stress-induced gastric ulcers at lower concentrations than partially purified lysophosphatidic acid from soybean lecithin did. In addition, administration of a decocted solution of antyu-san, and lysophosphatidic acid-rich Chinese medicine, to the stomach was more effective in protecting against stress-induced ulcer than decoctations of antyu-san lacking the corydalis tuber component that is rich in lysophosphatidic acid.

CONCLUSIONS

These results clearly show that lysophosphatidic acid is the effective component of soybean lecithin and antyu-san in protection against stress-induced gastric ulcer in the rat model, and suggest that daily intake of lysophosphatidic acid-rich foods or Chinese medicines may be beneficial for prevention of stress-induced gastric ulcer in human subjects.

Anticancer effects of a tertiary sulfonium compound, dimethylsulfoniopropionate, in green sea algae on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing mice

The saline and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) solutions at 5, 10 and 20 mM were preliminarily injected intraperitoneally every other day into two control and three DMSP groups of mice (n=8) for 2 wk and thereafter Ehrlich ascites-carcinoma (EAC) cells were peritoneally injected to one control and three DMSP groups of mice, leaving one control group without the EAC injection. Then, the body weight and survival time of all mice were examined over a long rearing time up to 300 d. All EAC-bearing mice, especially the carcinoma control and 5 mM DMSP-carcinoma group mice, rapidly increased their body weights early and then died by day 50 and day 90, respectively. In contrast, the administration of 10 and 20 mM DMSP solutions prolonged the lives of EAC-bearing mice at the survival rate of 50 and 63% respectively up to 300 d without any side effects. Furthermore, the administration of 10 mM DMSP solution proved to activate the delayed-type hypersensitivity of EAC bearing-mice, and the DMSP solutions over the concentrations of 5 to 30 mM to slightly reduce the dead cells in EAC cells on the synthetic medium. Accordingly, the preliminary supplementation of 10 and 20 mM DMSP solutions to EAC-bearing mice was proven to maintain their lives at high survival rates without direct damage to EAC cells for a long time, probably due to the activation of the immune system without any side effects.