Healing and Antisecretory Effects of Aqueous Extract of Eremomastax speciosa (Acanthaceae) on Unhealed Gastric Ulcers

Xiaojianzhong decoction attenuates gastric mucosal injury by activating the p62/Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway to inhibit ferroptosis

Gastric mucosal injury is the initial stage of the occurrence and development of gastric diseases. Oxidative stress and ferroptosis caused by the imbalance of redox and iron dynamics in gastric mucosal epithelial cells are present throughout the occurrence and development of gastric mucosal injury. Therefore, the inhibition of oxidative stress and ferroptosis is a potential target for the treatment of the gastric mucosal injury. Xiaojianzhong decoction (XJZ), which consists of six Chinese herbal medicines and extracts, is used for the treatment of diseases related to gastrointestinal mucosal injury; however, its specific mechanism of action has yet to be clarified. In this study, we clarified the protective effect of XJZ on gastric mucosa and revealed its underlying mechanism. We established a gastric mucosal injury model using aspirin and administered XJZ. Furthermore, we systematically evaluated the mucosal injury and examined the expression of genes related to oxidative stress, ferroptosis, and inflammation. The study found that XJZ significantly counteracted aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury and inhibited oxidative stress and ferroptosis in mice. Upon examining SQSTM1/p62(p62)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/Nuclear Factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2), a well-known signaling pathway involved in the regulation of oxidative stress and ferroptosis, we found that its activation was significantly inhibited by aspirin treatment and that this signaling pathway was activated after XJZ intervention. Our study suggests that XJZ may inhibit aspirin induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis via the p62/Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway, thereby attenuating gastric mucosal injury.

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.

Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod. counteracts the delaying effect of indomethacin on Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic gastric ulcers healing

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Information collected from local traditional healers reported that Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod. has for a long time been used to manage gastric ulcers in many regions of Cameroon and beyond. This traditional use is supported by numerous studies. However, efficacy of this plant has never been tested in case of chronic gastric ulcers associating Helicobacter pylori infection.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was designed to investigate curative effects of the aqueous extract of E. speciosa leaves (AEESL) against chronic gastric ulcers associated to Helicobacter pylori infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two experimental methods of chronic gastric ulcers, involving H. pylori infection, were performed using Wistar rats, namely: acetic acid-induced ulcers and "unhealed ulcers". E. speciosa extract was tested at three doses (100; 200; 400 mg/kg) and at the end of experiments, some in vivo antioxidant parameters were measured, bacterial load in stomach tissue calculated and histopathological examinations performed.

RESULTS

E. speciosa reduced ulcer index at all the doses and significantly increased mucus production as well as antioxidant (mainly SOD and GSH) level. Bacterial load in stomach significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in extract-treated groups (200 and 400 mg/kg) as confirmed by histopathological observations. The extract was found to be non toxic to healthy and cancerous cells (IC₅₀ > 1000 μg/mL).

CONCLUSIONS

E. speciosa accelerated healing of gastric ulcers even in presence of indomethacin, while decreasing bacterial loads in rats' stomachs. These results provide supplementary support to the use of E. speciosa in ethnomedicine and open new perspectives regarding development of a herbal-based monotherapy able to efficiently replace/supplement standard antiulcer tri/quadritherapy.

Rosmarinic Acid Enriched Fraction from Perilla frutescens Leaves Strongly Protects Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats

Gastric ulcers are a common problem in upper gastrointestinal tract (GI) disorders. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most aggressive factors leading to inducing gastric ulcers. Natural products with lower toxicity and safety are currently sought as a potential source to minimize the effect of the gastric ulcers. Perilla frutescens or Nga-mon (in Thai) leaves are rich in rosmarinic acid (RA), which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. This study investigates the protective effect of ethanolic extract (EE) and aqueous fraction (AF) from Perilla frutescens leaves, which are rich in RA, on indomethacin- (IND-) induced gastric ulcer in a rat model. The EE at the doses of 50 and 500 mg/kg body weight, AF at the doses of 50, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight, or famotidine (a standard drug) were administered for 14 days prior to ulcer induction. The ulceration was performed by intragastric administration of IND. Gross gastric ulcers and biological and histological parameters were examined. The pretreatment with AF had more significant effects than EE, including reduced ulcer index, decreased gastric secretion volume and decreased acidity, but it had an elevated gastric pH relative to the IND-induced gastric ulcer. In a histopathological study, the EE and AF decreased mucosal ulcer, inflammatory infiltration, and degenerative lining cells. The IND-induced expression of inflammatory mediators was significantly attenuated with EE and AF. The experiment also remarkably showed the preservation of mucus and apoptosis protection of EE and AF on a gastric mucosal ulcer. The findings demonstrated that the EE and AF of perilla leaves were capable of protecting the stomach against gastric ulcers induced by IND through anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic mechanisms that should be further investigated. It is suggested that Perilla frutescens leaf could be a potential alternative source of RA as a therapeutic agent and food supplement for NSAID-induced gastric injuries.

Gastroprotective effects of methanol extract of Eremomastax speciosa leaf harvested in Southern part of Nigeria in rat

Gastric ulcer is one of the common cause of hospital consultation with an increasing prevalence worldwide and it is traditionally managed with herbal medicine in the developing countries. This study investigated the gastroprotective effects of methanol extract of Eremomastax speciosa leaf in rats. Cold maceration in 80% methanol was adopted during extract preparation while gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) was employed in the phytochemical analysis. The doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg E. speciosa were used on ethanol-and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models in rats. The shay rat method was used to determine the effects of ESE on gastric acidity while the anticholinergic and antihistaminic activities were investigated on isolated rabbit jejunum ex vivo. The GC-MS analysis identified six bioactive compounds. Both ESE and cimetidine significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the severity of indomethacin- and ethanol-induced gastric injuries and gastric acid contents in Shay rats. The extract elicited concentration-dependent relaxation of isolated rabbit jejunum and reduced the contraction induced by both acetylcholine and histamine in the same tissue. The findings showed that ESE protected the rats against chemical-induced gastric ulcer through anticholinergic and antihistaminic mechanisms.