Anti-inflammatory effect of Perilla frutescens seed oil rich in omega-3 fatty acid on dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice

Protective effect of soluble dietary fiber from Rosa roxburghii Tratt residue on dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis by regulating serum metabolism and NF-κB pathway in mice

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) refers to an idiopathic chronic inflammatory bowel disease that starts with inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining the normal architecture of the intestinal mucosa. In this study, the protective effect and potential mechanism of soluble dietary fiber from Rosa roxburghii Tratt residue (SDFR) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice were explored.

RESULTS

The results revealed that SDFR could ameliorate body weight loss and pathological injury, improve the structure and crypt destruction in colon in DSS-induced mice. Moreover, the levels of NO, IL-1β, TNF-α, MPO and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 were decreased after administration of SDFR. Notably, nontargeted metabolomics analysis indicated that there were significant differences in 51 potential metabolites in serum between the DSS and control groups. SDFR intervention could regulate aberrant alterations of these metabolites and mitigate UC via regulating metabolic pathways, including arachidonic acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism.

CONCLUSION

This study provides novel evidence that SDFR could be used as a potential modulator to relieve UC. Also, the results provide a theoretical basis for the utilization of byproducts in Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit processing. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Protective Effect of Perilla Seed Meal and Perilla Seed Extract against Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis through Suppressing Inflammatory Cytokines in Mice

An excessive inflammatory response of the gastrointestinal tract is recognized as one of the major contributors to ulcerative colitis (UC). Despite this, effective preventive approaches for UC remain limited. Rosmarinic acid (RA), an enriched fraction from Perilla frutescens, has been shown to exert beneficial effects on disease-related inflammatory disorders. However, RA-enriched perilla seed meal (RAPSM) and perilla seed (RAPS) extracts have not been investigated in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice. RAPSM and RAPS were extracted using the solvent-partitioning method and analyzed with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mice with UC induced using 2.5% DSS for 7 days were pretreated with RAPSM and RAPS (50, 250, 500 mg/kg). Then, the clinical manifestation, colonic histopathology, and serum proinflammatory cytokines were determined. Indeed, DSS-induced UC mice exhibited colonic pathological defects including an impaired colon structure, colon length shortening, and increased serum proinflammatory cytokines. However, RAPSM and RAPS had a protective effect at all doses by attenuating colonic pathology in DSS-induced UC mice, potentially through the suppression of proinflammatory cytokines. Concentrations of 50 mg/kg of RAPSM and RAPS were sufficient to achieve a beneficial effect in UC mice. This suggests that RAPSM and RAPS have a preventive effect against DSS-induced UC, potentially through alleviating inflammatory responses and relieving severe inflammation in the colon.

Anti-inflammatory activity of peiminine in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis model

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the intestinal mucosa and a prevalent gastrointestinal condition in developed countries. Peiminine, derived from the Fritillaria imperialis plant, exhibits remarkable anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of peiminine in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis was induced intra-rectally in all groups, except the negative control, using 100 μl of 4% acetic acid. Peiminine treatment was initiated after ulcerative colitis induction and symptom manifestation. After the final injection, mice were sacrificed on day 15 for assessment. Various parameters were evaluated, including disease activity index, myeloperoxidase activity, nitric oxide levels, production and expression of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α cytokines, and expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX2 genes. Microscopic pathological evaluation was performed on colon tissue. Peiminine treatment resulted in reduced levels of NO, MPO, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α genes, iNOS, and COX2 genes was decreased in response to peiminine treatment in these mice. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of peiminine in alleviating inflammatory manifestations and mitigating intestinal tissue damage in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis, probably by anti-inflammatory procedure. Peiminine holds potential as a therapeutic adjunct for the management of ulcerative colitis.

Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Properties of the Subfamily Nepetoideae (Lamiaceae) in Inflammatory Diseases

Nepetoideae is the most diverse subfamily of Lamiaceae, and some species are well known for their culinary and medicinal uses. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the therapeutic properties of the species of this group regarding inflammatory illnesses. This study aims to collect information on traditional uses through ethnobotanical, pharmacological, and phytochemical information of the subfamily Nepetoideae related to inflammatory diseases. UNAM electronic resources were used to obtain the information. The analysis of the most relevant literature was compiled and organised in tables. From this, about 106 species of the subfamily are traditionally recognised to alleviate chronic pain associated with inflammation. Pharmacological studies have been carried out in vitro and in vivo on approximately 308 species belonging to the genera Salvia, Ocimum, Thymus, Mentha, Origanum, Lavandula, and Melissa. Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluations have been performed and mostly prepared as essential oil or high polarity extracts, whose secondary metabolites are mainly of a phenolic nature. Other interesting and explored metabolites are diterpenes from the abietane, clerodane, and kaurane type; however, they have only been described in some species of the genera Salvia and Isodon. This review reveals that the Nepetoideae subfamily is an important source for therapeutics of the inflammatory process.

The Potential of Natural Oils to Improve Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal inflammatory disorder that includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), the exact cause of which is still unknown. Numerous studies have confirmed that diet is one of the major environmental factors associated with IBD, as it can regulate the gut microbiota and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Since the consumption of oil is essential in the diet, improving IBD through oil has potential. In this article, we first briefly reviewed the current treatment methods for IBD and introduce the role of natural oils in improving inflammatory diseases. We then focused on the recent discovery of the role of natural oils in the prevention and treatment of IBD and summarized their main mechanisms of action. The results showed that the anti-inflammatory activity of oils derived from different plants and animals has been validated in various experimental animal models. These oils are capable of improving the intestinal homeostasis in IBD animal models through multiple mechanisms, including modulation of the gut microbiota, protection of the intestinal barrier, reduction in colonic inflammation, improvement in oxidative stress levels in the intestine, and regulation of immune homeostasis. Therefore, dietary or topical use of natural oils may have potential therapeutic effects on IBD. However, currently, only a few clinical trials support the aforementioned conclusions. This review emphasized the positive effects of natural oils on IBD and encouraged more clinical trials to provide more reliable evidence on the improvement of human IBD by natural oils as functional substances.

Anti-Inflammatory, Barrier Maintenance, and Gut Microbiome Modulation Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae QHNLD8L1 on DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

The use of probiotics has been considered as a new therapy option for ulcerative colitis (UC), and yeast has recently received widespread recommendation for human health. In this study, the probiotic characteristics of four yeast strains, Saccharomyces boulardii CNCMI-745, Kluyveromyces marxianus QHBYC4L2, Saccharomyces cerevisiae QHNLD8L1, and Debaryomyces hansenii QSCLS6L3, were evaluated in vitro; their ability to ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis was investigated. Among these, S. cerevisiae QHNLD8L1 protected against colitis, which was reflected by increased body weight, colon length, histological injury relief, decreased gut inflammation markers, and intestinal barrier restoration. The abundance of the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia–Shigella and Enterococcaceae in mice with colitis decreased after S. cerevisiae QHNLD8L1 treatment. Moreover, S. cerevisiae QHNLD8L1 enriched beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus, Faecalibaculum, and Butyricimonas, enhanced carbon metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis function, and increased short chain fatty acid (SCFAs) production. Taken together, our results indicate the great potential of S. cerevisiae QHNLD8L1 supplementation for the prevention and alleviation of UC.

A comprehensive review of the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and quality control of Perillae Fructus

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Perilla frutescens (Linnaeus) Britton, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 5: 277. 1894., is famous as a worldwide plant with multiple medical parts, including leaves, stems, fruits, etc. Perillae Fructus, the desiccative ripe fruit of P. frutescens, is locally called Zisuzi in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. It is a popularly used herb for relieving cough and asthma, dissipating phlegm and treating constipation in some Asian countries, such as China, Japan, India, South Korea, etc. Various chemical compounds were isolated and identified from Perillae Fructus.

THE AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to summarize the botany, ethnopharmacological applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and quality control of Perillae Fructus to provide scientific evidence for development and utilization Perillae Fructus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant information about Perillae Fructus was collected from ScienceDirect, PubMed, Web of science, CNKI, WanFang data, ancient classics and clinical reports. Some electronic databases were also retrieved.

RESULTS

Perillae Fructus was exerted to treat cough and asthma in traditional application. It also had the effect on moistening intestine to relieve constipation for tremendous lipid substances. Up to now, 193 compounds have been isolated and identified from Perillae Fructus, mainly including fatty acids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, phytosterols, triterpenoids and volatile oils. As for its pharmacological activities, prevalent traditional applications of Perillae Fructus have been supported by modern pharmacological experiments in vivo or in vitro, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Besides, Perillae Fructus also has hypolipidemic, anti-tumor, antibacterial effects, etc. This review will provide a scientific basis for further studies and rational applications of Perillae Fructus in the future.

CONCLUSIONS

According to its traditional applications, phytochemicals and pharmacological activities, Perillae Fructus was regarded as a valuable herb for application in medicine and food fields. Although some ingredients have been confirmed to have multiple pharmacological activities, their mechanisms of action are still unclear. Further studies on the material basis and mechanism of action are clearly warranted.

Protective Effect of Red Rice Extract Rich in Proanthocyanidins in a Murine Colitis Model

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has become a global concern. Proanthocyanidin-rich red rice extract (PRRE) has been shown to suppress the inflammatory response in cellular cultures. However, the anti-colitis effect of PRRE has never been investigated in animals. This study aimed to examine the protective effect of the PRRE against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Male mice were orally administrated with PRRE of 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day for 21 days. Acute colitis was subsequently induced by administrated 2.5% DSS in drinking water for the final seven days. Sulfasalazine-treated mice were the positive group. All doses of PRRE and sulfasalazine significantly ameliorated DSS-induced severity of colitis, as indicated by decreasing daily activity index and restoring colon shortening. Treatments with PRRE, but not sulfasalazine, significantly reduced the histopathological index and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Furthermore, the PRRE treatments effectively improved mucous in colonic goblet cells using PAS staining, and suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 induced by DSS, while sulfasalazine reduced only IL-1β and IL-6. This study suggested that PRRE had a greater anti-colitis effect than sulfasalazine. Thus, PRRE has a potential anti-colitis effect, and should be developed in a clinical trial as a natural active pharmaceutical ingredient for IBD.

Emulgels Containing Perilla frutescens Seed Oil, Moringa oleifera Seed Oil, and Mixed Seed Oil: Microemulsion and Safety Assessment

P. frutescens seed oil and M. oleifera seed oil consist of fatty acids and sterols that are beneficial for skin. Mixing of these oils at 1:1 ratio has shown to increase antioxidant activity of oils. This study aims to formulate emulgels containing microemulsions of P. frutescens seed oil, M. oleifera seed oil, and mixed P. frutescens and M. oleifera seed oils. The chemical constituents of P. frutescens seed oil, M. oleifera seed oil, and mixed seed oil are analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The microemulsions are formulated by a phase titration method and characterized for the droplet size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential value using a dynamic light scattering technique. The physical and chemical stability of the microemulsions are investigated using a rheometer and UV-Visible spectrophotometer, respectively. The safety of microemulsion is evaluated on PBMC and human subjects. Emulgels containing three different types of microemulsion are formulated. The results show that P. frutescens seed oil is mainly composed of alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid, whereas M. oleifera seed oil contains a high proportion of oleic acid. Mixed seed oil contains a comparable amount of alpha-linolenic acid and oleic acid. All types of oils are composed of β-sitosterol as the major plant sterol. Microemulsions of all types of oils are successfully prepared by using Tween 80 as a surfactant due to the largest transparent region of pseudoternary phase diagram. The size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential values of all types of microemulsion are in the acceptable range upon storage at 30 °C for 1 month. Microemulsions exhibit pseudoplastic flow behavior. The percent of remaining oils in all types of microemulsion is more than 90% after storage at 30 °C for 1 month. Emulgels containing three types of microemulsions exhibit good characteristics and no change in viscosity after storage at 4, 30, and 45 °C for 1 month. The safety results reveal that three types of microemulsion do not induce cytotoxicity to PBMC nor induce skin irritation and allergic reactions. Emulgels containing microemulsions developed in this study can be used to safely deliver P. frutescens seed oil, M. oleifera seed oil, and mixed seed oil to human skin.

Fat of the Gut: Epithelial Phospholipids in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) comprise a distinct set of clinical symptoms resulting from chronic inflammation within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Despite the significant progress in understanding the etiology and development of treatment strategies, IBD remain incurable for thousands of patients. Metabolic deregulation is indicative of IBD, including substantial shifts in lipid metabolism. Recent data showed that changes in some phospholipids are very common in IBD patients. For instance, phosphatidylcholine (PC)/phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)/PC ratios are associated with the severity of the inflammatory process. Composition of phospholipids also changes upon IBD towards an increase in arachidonic acid and a decrease in linoleic and a-linolenic acid levels. Moreover, an increase in certain phospholipid metabolites, such as lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingosine-1-phosphate and ceramide, can result in enhanced intestinal inflammation, malignancy, apoptosis or necroptosis. Because some phospholipids are associated with pathogenesis of IBD, they may provide a basis for new strategies to treat IBD. Current attempts are aimed at controlling phospholipid and fatty acid levels through the diet or via pharmacological manipulation of lipid metabolism.

Perilla Seed Oil Alleviates Gut Dysbiosis, Intestinal Inflammation and Metabolic Disturbance in Obese-Insulin-Resistant Rats

Background: High-fat diet (HFD) consumption induced gut dysbiosis, inflammation, obese-insulin resistance. Perilla seed oil (PSO) is a rich source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with health promotional effects. However, the effects of PSO on gut microbiota/inflammation and metabolic disturbance in HFD-induced obesity have not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of different doses of PSO and metformin on gut microbiota/inflammation, and metabolic parameters in HFD-fed rats. Methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were fed either a normal diet or an HFD for 24 weeks. At week 13, HFD-fed rats received either 50, 100, and 500 mg/kg/day of PSO or 300 mg/kg/day metformin for 12 weeks. After 24 weeks, the metabolic parameters, gut microbiota, gut barrier, inflammation, and oxidative stress were determined. Results: HFD-fed rats showed gut dysbiosis, gut barrier disruption with inflammation, increased oxidative stress, metabolic endotoxemia, and insulin resistance. Treatment with PSO and metformin not only effectively attenuated gut dysbiosis, but also improved gut barrier integrity and decreased gut inflammation. PSO also decreased oxidative stress, metabolic endotoxemia, and insulin resistance in HFD-fed rats. Metformin had greater benefits than PSO. Conclusion: PSO and metformin had the beneficial effect on attenuating gut inflammation and metabolic disturbance in obese-insulin resistance.