Multipathway Integrated Adjustment Mechanism of Glycyrrhiza Triterpenes Curing Gastric Ulcer in Rats

Exploring the Underlying Mechanisms of Preventive Treatment Related to Dietary Factors for Gastric Diseases

Gastric diseases have emerged as one of the main chronic diseases in humans, leading to considerable health, social, and economic burdens. As a result, using food or "food and medicinal homologous substances" has become an effective strategy to prevent gastric diseases. Diet may play a crucial role in the prevention and mitigation of gastric diseases, particularly long-term and regular intake of specific dietary components that have a protective effect on the stomach. These key components, extracted from food, include polysaccharides, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenols, peptides, probiotics, etc. The related mechanisms involve regulating gastric acid secretion, protecting gastric mucosa, increasing the release of gastric defense factors, decreasing the level of inflammatory factors, inhibiting Helicobacter pylori infection, producing antioxidant effects or reducing oxidative damage, preventing gastric oxidative stress by inhibiting lipid peroxides, activating Nrf2 signaling pathway, and inhibiting NF-κB, TLR4, and NOS/NO signaling pathways.

Mongolian medicine formulae Ruda-6 alleviates indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer by regulating gut microbiome and serum metabolomics in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ruda-6 (RD-6), a typical traditional Mongolian medicine formulae consisting of 6 herbs, has been traditionally used in treating gastric disorders. Even though it has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers (GU) in animal models, the gut microbiome and serum metabololite-related mechanisms that prevent GU are not well understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was conducted to evaluate the gastroprotective mechanism of RD-6 associated with the alteration of the gut microbiome and serum metabolic profiles in GU rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RD-6 (0.27, 1.35 and 2.7 g/kg) or ranitidine (40 mg/kg) were orally administered in rats for three weeks before the induction of gastric ulcer using indomethacin (30 mg/kg, single oral dose). The gastric ulcer index, ulcer area, H&E staining, and the levels of TNF-α, iNOS, MPO and MDA were quantified to evaluate the ulcer inhibitory effects of RD-6. Then, 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with LC-MS metabolic profiling was performed to investigate the effect of RD-6 on the gut microbiota and serum metabolites in rats. Moreover, a spearman analysis was used to calculate the correlation coefficient between the different microbiota and the metabolites.

RESULTS

RD-6 inhibited the gastric lesion damage caused by indomethacin in rats, decreased the ulcer index by 50.29% (p < 0.05), reduced the levels of TNF-α, iNOS, MDA and MPO in gastric tissue. Additionally, RD-6 reshaped the diversity and microbial composition, and reversed the reduced bacteria including [Eubacterium]_xylanophilum group, Sellimonas, Desulfovibrio, and UCG-009, and the increased bacteria Aquamicrobium caused by indomethacin induction. Furthermore, RD-6 regulated the levels of metabolites including amino acids and organic acids, and these affected metabolites were involved in taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and tryptophan metabolism. Spearman analysis revealed that the perturbed gut microbiota were closely related to the changes in differential serum metabolites.

CONCLUSION

In view of the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC-MS metabolic results, the present study suggests the mechanism of RD-6 ameliorating GU via modulating intestinal microbiota and their metabolites.

RNA-Seq Reveals Protective Mechanisms of Mongolian Medicine Molor-Dabos-4 on Acute Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

This study aimed to apply transcriptomics to determine how Molor-Dabos-4 (MD-4) protects healthy rats against indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric ulcers and to identify the mechanism behind this protective effect. Rats were pretreated with MD-4 (0.3, 1.5, or 3 g/kg per day) for 21 days before inducing gastric ulcers by oral administration with indomethacin (30 mg/kg). Unulcerated and untreated healthy rats were used as controls. Effects of the treatment were assessed based on the ulcer index, histological and pathological examinations, and indicators of inflammation, which were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Transcriptomic analysis was performed for identifying potential pharmacological mechanisms. Eventually, after identifying potential target genes, the latter were validated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). After pretreatment with MD-4, gastric ulcers, along with other histopathological features, were reduced. MD-4 significantly (p < 0.05) increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in ulcers and reduced pepsin, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. RNA-seq analysis identified a number of target genes on which MD-4 could potentially act. Many of these genes were involved in pathways that were linked to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses, and other protective mechanisms for the gastric mucosa. qRT-PCR showed that altered expression of the selected genes, such as Srm, Ryr-1, Eno3, Prkag3, and Eef1a2, was consistent with the transcriptome results. MD-4 exerts protective effects against IND-induced gastric ulcers by reducing inflammatory cytokines and pepsin and increasing the expression of SOD levels. Downregulation of Srm, Ryr-1, Eno3, Prkag3, and Eef1a2 genes involved in regulating arginine and proline metabolism, calcium signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, oxytocin signaling pathway, and legionellosis are possibly involved in MD-4-mediated protection against gastric ulcers.

Pharmacological investigation of brucine anti-ulcer potential

Gastric ulcer is one of the most common chronic gastrointestinal diseases characterized by a significant defect in the mucosal barrier. The current study has been conducted to evaluate the brucine anti-ulcer effect. Brucine has binding energy values ranging from −2.99 to −8.11 kcal/mol against chosen targets, according to in silico research. Brucine exhibits an inhibitory effect against Helicobacter pylori. In vivo findings revealed that brucine (3 mg/kg) showed effective results in healing ethanol-induced ulcer lesions of the gastric region in rats. Brucine showed an inhibitory effect against H⁺/K⁺-ATPase. Levels of glutathione, glutathione-s-transferase, and catalase were enhanced in the gastric rat tissue with the use of brucine, while a significant decrease in lipid peroxide levels was seen. Histopathological evaluation showed improvement in cellular architecture and a decrease in inflammatory indicators like cyclooxygenase, tumor necrosis factor, and nuclear factor kappa B expression, validated through immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot techniques. In the reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, brucine decreased H⁺/K⁺-ATPase mRNA levels. This study reveals that brucine possesses stable binding affinities against selected targets. Brucine exhibits an anti-ulcer effect, mediated via anti-H. pylori, H⁺/K⁺-ATPase inhibition, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways.

Mechanism of rutaecarpine on ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer using integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology

This study was aimed to explore the mechanism of rutaecarpine (RUT) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer (GU) in mice by integrated approaches. At first, the efficacy was determined through the macroscopic and microscopic state of stomach tissue and the expression levels of GU-related factors. Then, the serum metabolomics method based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was used to explore the specific metabolites and metabolic pathways. Finally, the upstream key protein targets of these specific metabolites were analyzed by network pharmacology and verified by PCR to explore the potential mechanism. RUT alleviated the histological and pathological damage of gastric tissue caused by ethanol, and could remarkably ameliorate the level of GU-related factors. Subsequently, a total of 7 potential metabolites involved in 9 metabolic pathways were identified by metabolomics analysis. Then, a 'component-targets-metabolites' interaction network was constructed, and therefore 4 key target proteins (PLA2G1B, PDE5A, MIF and SRC) that may regulate the specific metabolites were obtained. This case was further verified by the results of PCR. ALL the above results strongly demonstrated that RUT exerted a gastroprotective effect against GU. And it is the first time to combine metabolomics combined with network pharmacology to elucidate the mechanism of RUT on GU, which may be related to the regulation of energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation, and these pathways may be regulated through the upstream protein PLA2G1B, PDE5A, MIF and SRC.

The Role of Adaptogens in Prophylaxis and Treatment of Viral Respiratory Infections

The aim of our review is to demonstrate the potential of herbal preparations, specifically adaptogens for prevention and treatment of respiratory infections, as well as convalescence, specifically through supporting a challenged immune system, increasing resistance to viral infection, inhibiting severe inflammatory progression, and driving effective recovery. The evidence from pre-clinical and clinical studies with Andrographis paniculata, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Glycyrrhiza spp., Panax spp., Rhodiola rosea, Schisandra chinensis, Withania somnifera, their combination products and melatonin suggests that adaptogens can be useful in prophylaxis and treatment of viral infections at all stages of progression of inflammation as well as in aiding recovery of the organism by (i) modulating innate and adaptive immunity, (ii) anti-inflammatory activity, (iii) detoxification and repair of oxidative stress-induced damage in compromised cells, (iv) direct antiviral effects of inhibiting viral docking or replication, and (v) improving quality of life during convalescence.

Protective Effect of Ocotillol, the Derivate of Ocotillol-Type Saponins in Panax Genus, against Acetic Acid-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats Based on Untargeted Metabolomics

Gastric ulcer (GU), a prevalent digestive disease, has a high incidence and is seriously harmful to human health. Finding a natural drug with a gastroprotective effect is needed. Ocotillol, the derivate of ocotillol-type saponins in the Panax genus, possesses good anti-inflammatory activity. The study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective effect of ocotillol on acetic acid-induced GU rats. The serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO), the gastric mucosa levels of epidermal growth factor, superoxide dismutase and NO were assessed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of gastric mucosa for pathological changes and immunohistochemical staining of ET-1, epidermal growth factor receptors and inducible nitric oxide synthase were evaluated. A UPLC-QTOF-MS-based serum metabolomics approach was applied to explore the latent mechanism. A total of 21 potential metabolites involved in 7 metabolic pathways were identified. The study helps us to understand the pathogenesis of GU and to provide a potential natural anti-ulcer agent.

An experimental in-vitro study to evaluate the anti-helicobacter activity of Glycyrrhetinic acid

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the in-vitro efficacy of Glycyrrhetinic acid against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains, as compared with conventional antibacterial agents.

Methods: A total of 41 H. pylori isolates were used, 6 of which were of standard strains (NCTC 1637), 8 of which were drug-sensitive, and 27 were resistant to drugs isolates. Clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance in all strains of H. pylori were determined by the Epsilometer test (E-test) method. MIC study was performed by using microdilution broth method.

Results: Glycyrrhetinic acid was found to be effective against H. pylori NCTC 1637 in doses of 12.0±4.38 µg/mL, while the MIC value of clinical H. pylori isolates susceptible to antimicrobials was 20.8±10.11 µg/ml. It was found that the MIC values for antimicrobial-sensitive clinical H. pylori isolates was higher when compared with H. pylori NCTC 1637 strains. The MIC values of the standard antimicrobial agents against drug-resistant H. pylori strains were higher than H. pylori NCTC 1637 strains and drug-sensitive H. pylori strains. The MIC value was found to be 14.22±7.77 µg/ml for metronidazole, 3.89±1.90 µg/ml for clarithromycin, 2.33±1.0 µg/ml for amoxicillin, 2.44±0.88 µg/ml for levofloxacin and 4.89±2.47 µg/ml for tetracycline, whereas the MIC value of Glycyrrhetinic acid was 26.67±8.0 µg/ml in metronidazole-resistant H. pylori isolates. Besides, MIC values of the antimicrobials and 18ß-Glycyrrhetinic acid among the strains resistant to clarithromycin were as follows: 3.25±2.12 µg/ml for metronidazole, 9.71±4.54 µg/ml for clarithromycin, 2.06±1.32 µg/ml for amoxicillin, 3.88±4.22 µg/ml for levofloaxacin and 3.25±1.04 µg/mL for tetracycline and 22.0±11.11 µg/ml for Glycyrrhetinic acid.

Conclusion: Glycyrrhetinic acid had significant antimicrobial activity against H. pylori strains. Although further in-vivo studies are needed on antimicrobial activity of Glycyrrhetinic acid, increased resistance to drugs currently used in treatment suggests that Glycyrrhetinic acid may be a potential agent for the treatment of H. pylori.