Development, In-Vitro Characterization and Preclinical Evaluation of Esomeprazole-Encapsulated Proniosomal Formulation for the Enhancement of Anti-Ulcer Activity

Objective: The present study aimed to develop and optimize esomeprazole loaded proniosomes (EZL-PNs) to improve bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Method: EZL-PNs formulation was developed by slurry method and optimized by 33 box-Bhekhen statistical design software. Span 60 (surfactant), cholesterol, EZL concentration were taken as independent variables and their effects were evaluated on vesicle size (nm), entrapment efficiency (%, EE) and drug release (%, DR). Furthermore, optimized EZL-PNs (EZL-PNs-opt) formulation was evaluated for ex vivo permeation, pharmacokinetic and ulcer protection activity. Result: The EZL-PNs-opt formulation showed 616 ± 13.21 nm of vesicle size, and 81.21 ± 2.35% of EE. EZL-PNs-opt exhibited negative zeta potential and spherical confirmed scanning electron microscopy. EZL-PNs-opt showed sustained release of EZL (95.07 ± 2.10% in 12 h) than pure EZL dispersion. The ex-vivo gut permeation result exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced flux than pure EZL. The in vivo results revealed 4.02-fold enhancement in bioavailability and 61.65% protection in ulcer than pure EZL dispersion (43.82%). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that EZL-PNs formulation could be an alternative delivery system of EZL to enhance oral bioavailability and antiulcer activity.

A review on anti-peptic ulcer activities of medicinal plants used in the formulation of Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK 500 capsules

Peptic ulcer disease affects many people globally. With the increasing resistance to some orthodox antibiotics such as Clarithromycin and Metronidazole, it is important that new acceptable, safer and effective therapies are developed to manage this disease. Various herbal medicines have been used traditionally for the remedy of peptic ulcer disease (PUD), however scientific information with regards to their anti-peptic ulcer both in-vivo and in-vitro as well as clinical studies supporting their use is still inadequate. The Centre for Plant Medicine Research, (CPMR) Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana manufactures three herbal Products namely Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK 500 capsules which are currently used for the remedy of PUD as a triple therapy at its out-patient clinic with promising effects. The aim of this review is to gather information from literature on the anti-ulcer properties, pharmacological, phytochemical constituents and related activities of herbal plants used at the CPMR for formulation of the triple herbal therapy. This review may, provide some scientific bases for the use of Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK 500 capsules in the management of Peptic ulcer at the CPMR out-patient clinic.

METHODS

Organization for the review involved the on and/or offline search for information from available literature using electronic data and scientific research information resources such as PubMed, Science Direct and Google scholar.

RESULTS

In this review, fifteen ethno-medicinal plants used for the formulation of Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK capsules have been discussed, presenting the description of the plants, composition and pharmacological activity.

INTERPRETATION

Tables with the summary of reviewed medicinal plants with their anti-ulcer models and inference on possible mechanisms of action were drawn up. The mechanism(s) of action of individual plants and products (Enterica, Dyspepsia and NPK 500 capsules) must be further investigated and established experimentally in-vitro in addition to in-vivo pharmacological and clinical activity studies to confirm their use in the remedy of PUD.

Pharmacological mechanisms underlying gastroprotective activities of binapthyl diselenide in Wistar rats

Selenium (Se) is a dietary essential trace element with important biological roles. It is a nutrient related to the complex metabolic and enzymatic functions. Organoselenium compounds have been reported to have anti-ulcer activity and used as drug for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The antiulcer activity of binapthyl diselenide (NapSe)2 was investigated in ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. A number of markers of oxidative stress were examined in rats stomach including thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), non-protein thiol groups (NPSH) and ascorbic acid. (NapSe)2 was found to be significantly restoring the deficits in the antioxidant defense mechanisms (CAT, SOD, NPSH and ascorbic acid), and suppressed lipid peroxidation in rat stomach resulting from EtOH administration. It is experimentally concluded that ethanol exposure causes alterations in the antioxidant defense system and induces oxidative stress in rat stomach. These studies establish a promising foundation for investigating and understanding the beneficial effects of organoselenium compounds on human health. Moreover, (NaPSe)₂ deserves further investigation as a therapeutic and preventive agent against gastric ulcer in humans.

Chromatographic Profiling of Ellagic Acid in Woodfordia fruticosa Flowers and their Gastroprotective Potential in Ethanol-induced Ulcers in Rats

BACKGROUND

Woodfordia fruticosa, a plant of Indian origin, is extensively used in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to standardize the flowers of W. fruticosa, Kurz (Lythraceae), an important plant of Indian origin and explore the chemical constituents contributing to its anti-ulcer activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiling of the three samples of W. fruticosa flowers purchased from three different markets was done using ellagic acid as the biomarker. Two doses of the aqueous extract of the W. fruticosa (AEWF) flowers were evaluated for anti-ulcer activity by ethanol-induced ulcer model in Wistar albino rats. Omeprazole was used as the positive control. The parameters used for the assessment of the anti-ulcer potential were total titratable acidity (TTA), ulcer index, and percentage protection.

RESULTS

The HPTLC and HPLC studies confirmed the presence of ellagic acid in all the three drug samples. The AEWF showed significant reduction in terms of TTA at both doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg. The gastroprotection indicated by a lower ulcer index and higher percentage protection was significant for 200 mg/kg dose of AEWF, better than the protection afforded by omeprazole (10 mg/kg).

CONCLUSION

The chromatographic profiling and the anti-ulcer studies served as an efficient tool in the characterization of ellagic acid as an important biomarker for the flowers of W. fruticosa and a probable contributor to the gastroprotective capacity of the drug. The bioactivity studies further supported the traditional use of W. fruticosa in the treatment of ulcers.

SUMMARY

HPTLC & HPLC fingerprinting of W. fruticosa using ellagic acid as a biomarker.Evaluation of W. fruticosa for gastroprotection potential in ethanol induced gastric ulcer in rats model.Aqueous extract of the drug showed better gastroprotection than the standard drug omeprazole at a dose of 200 mg/kg.

Gastroprotective effect of the iridoid fraction from Barleria prionitis leaves on experimentally-induced gastric ulceration

AIM

To study the gastroprotective effect and in vivo antioxidant potential of a standardized iridoid fraction from B. prionitis leaves (BPE) against different gastric ulcer models in rats.

METHOD

The standardized iridoid fraction from BPE at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight was administered orally, twice daily for 5 days for prevention from aspirin, ethanol, cold-restraint stress (CRS), and pylorus ligation (PL)-induced ulcers. Estimation of the antioxidant enzyme activity was carried out in a CRS-induced ulcer model, and various gastric secretion parameters including volume of gastric juice, acid output, and pH value were estimated in the PL-induced ulcer model.

RESULTS

BPE showed a dose-dependent ulcer protective effect in PL (18.67%-66.26% protection), aspirin (24.65%-63.25% protection), CRS (20.77%-59.42% protection), and EtOH (16.93%-77.04% protection)-induced ulcers. BPE treatment in PL-rats showed a decrease in acid-pepsin secretion, and enhanced mucin and mucosal glycoproteins. However, BPE reduced the ulcer index with significant decrease in LPO (P < 0.01-0.001), SOD (P < 0.01-0.001), and an increase in CAT (P < 0.01-0.001), activity in the CRS-induced model.

CONCLUSION

The data shows that the iridoid fraction from BPE possesses anti-ulcerogenic and antioxidant potential.