Prophylactic Protective Action of Aqueous Extract of Green Oak Acorns on Ethanol-Induced Acute Injury to Rat Gastroduodenal Mucosa.

Quercus ilex fruit is widely used in the treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhea, for its bioactive compounds and astringent property. The current study focuses on the phytochemical characterization of the Q. ilex-aqueous extract (QIAE) and its protective effect against gastroduodenal (GD) ulcer (GDU) produced by absolute ethanol (EtOH) intoxication in adult male Wistar rats. Experimental rats were divided into six groups (n = 6): control, EtOH [95%, 4 g/kg body weight (b.w.)], EtOH + different doses of QIAE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, b.w.), and EtOH + Famotidine (FAM, 10 mg/kg, b.w.). Animals were orally pretreated (p.o.) with QIAE for 15 days and intoxicated with a single oral administration of EtOH for 2 h. The findings showed that the QIAE is rich in phenolic-astringent compounds and fibers, and it exhibited a significant scavenging activity on DPPH/ABTS free-radicals with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 177.00 ± 5.11 and 203.9 ± 2.23 µg/mL, respectively. In vivo part, QIAE significantly reduced the GD mucosal injury revealed by edema and leukocyte infiltration of the submucosal layer. GD mucosal homogenates revealed a remarkable increase in endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) and a decrease in the lipid peroxidation levels (malondialdehyde) in animals pretreated with QIAE compared with the ulcer control group. QIAE exerted significant and dose-dependent anti-GDU protection in the rat model with a more effective action than FAM. The GD protective effect of the QIAE might be related to a direct radical scavenging activity, increased antioxidant enzymes, and depression of lipid peroxidation.

Dose-dependent Action of Zingiber officinale on Colonic Dysmotility and Ex Vivo Spontaneous Intestinal Contraction Modulation.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizomes are commonly used in foods and employed for many ailments including gastrointestinal disorders. Our main objective was to evaluate the effect of Zingiber officinale aqueous extract (ZOAE) on gastrointestinal (GI) physiological motility and colonic dysmotility. Thereby, Wistar rats were given loperamide (LP, 3 mg/kg, b.w.) and ZOAE (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg, b.w.) or yohimbine (YOH, 2 mg/kg, b.w.). ZOAE-action on intestinal secretion was assessed using Ussing chamber technique and intestinal motility with isometric transducer. GI-transit (GIT) and gastric emptying (GE) were evaluated with the charcoal meal test and the red phenol methods. ZOAE-bioactive components were analyzed by liquid chromatography-high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-HRESIMS). Constipation was induced with LP and the different indicators such as stool composition, GIT, oxidative stress biological parameters, and colonic mucosa histological alteration were performed. Anti-constipation effect of ZOAE was confirmed on stool composition, GIT (53.42% to 85.57%), GE (55.47% to 98.88%), and re-established oxidative balance. ZOAE induces an amplitude increase of spontaneous intestinal contraction with EC50 of 10.52 µg/mL. No effect of ZOAE was observed on electrogenic transport of intestinal fluid. These findings suggest that ZOAE-bioactive candidates might exert an anti-constipation action and spontaneous intestinal contraction modulation.

Antidiarrheal, Antimicrobial, and Antioxidant Properties of the Aqueous Extract of Tunisian Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) Fruits.

Medicinal plants were used to prevent and treat numerous gastrointestinal disorders owing, in part, to their antioxidant capacity. The protective effects of Diospyros kaki fruit aqueous extract (DKFAE) against castor oil (CO)-induced diarrhea was studied. The in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial properties were investigated using colorimetric and biochemical analyses. In vivo, 60 male rats were divided into 6 groups of 10 animals each (n = 10): control (C), CO, CO+various doses of DKFAE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.), and CO+loperamide (LOP, 10 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.).The DKFAE was rich in tannins and showed interesting antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) analysis resulted in the identification of 16 phenolic compounds, among which quinic acid was the main one. The in vivo study showed that diarrhea was accompanied by an oxidative stress status as measured by an increase of lipid peroxidation, a decrease of glutathione and thiol group levels, as well as antioxidant enzyme activity depletion, such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. The DKFAE administration significantly decreased the gastrointestinal transit in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, DKFAE protected against CO-induced diarrhea and intestinal fluid accumulation. Interestingly, DKFAE pretreatment counteracted all the oxidative stress status deregulation induced by CO intoxication. D. kaki fruit could be suggested for its strong protective effect against CO-induced acute diarrhea, which could be explained, in part, to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.