Synergistic enhancement of rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity by taurine and sodium butyrate protects against endotoxin-induced bowel inflammation.

The effect of sodium butyrate (SB) and taurine on rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase (RIA) and the effect of the interaction of taurine and/or SB with bacterial lipopolysaccharides on ALP activity were investigated. In vitro analysis of the activity of RIA was carried out using various concentrations of SB and/or taurine. Substrate concentration-dependent kinetic study was performed at 1-10 mM of taurine and SB at 5.17 mM of p-nitrophenyl phosphate (p-NPP). The in vivo effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence and absence of taurine and SB on the activity of RIA was also evaluated. LPS was administered to rats intraperitoneally and 20 min after; this was followed by oral administration of SB and/or taurine. The hydrolysis of p-NPP by RIA was enhanced by taurine and SB at different concentrations. The in vivo kinetic study revealed that RIA activity was greater (588.23 × 10-3  µmol/min/ml) when taurine and SB were co-administered with bacterial LPS, yielding a low Km (0.12 mM) value. This suggested an increased affinity for the substrate by the enzyme. The degree of activation was highest when SB and taurine were administered together with LPS. The study concluded that SB and taurine are activators of RIA and their positive synergistic interaction in the presence of bacterial LPS may further emphasize the role of both activators in attenuating bacterial LPS-mediated diseases. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The development and progression of a myriad of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, sepsis, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis have been linked to bacterial endotoxin. Taurine is an amino acid derived from cysteine, while sodium butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid. Consumption of food and food supplement rich in taurine and sodium butyrate can help protect against endotoxemic injury and aid tissue repair in the small intestine, digestibility, growth, and overall health of animals.

Anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory constituents of leaf extracts of Anacardium occidentale L. in animal models.

OBJECTIVE: Anacardium occidentale L. leaf is useful in the treatment of inflammation and asthma, but the bioactive constituents responsible for these activities have not been characterized. Therefore, this study was aimed at identifying the bioactive constituent(s) of A. occidentale ethanolic leaf extract (AOEL) and its solvent-soluble portions, and evaluating their effects on histamine-induced paw edema and bronchoconstriction. METHODS: The bronchodilatory effect was determined by measuring the percentage protection provided by plant extracts in the histamine-induced bronchoconstriction model in guinea pigs. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts on histamine-induced paw edema in rats was determined by measuring the increase in paw diameter, after which the percent edema inhibition was calculated. The extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify the bioactive constituents. Column chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used respectively to isolate and characterize the constituents. The bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated bioactive constituent were evaluated. RESULTS: Histamine induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pigs and edema in the rat paw. AOEL, hexane-soluble portion of AOEL, ethyl acetate-soluble portion of AOEL, and chloroform-soluble portion of AOEL significantly increased bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities (P < 0.05). Oleamide (9-octadecenamide) was identified as the most abundant compound in the extracts and was isolated. Oleamide significantly increased bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities by 32.97% and 98.41%, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that oleamide is one of the bioactive constituents responsible for the bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activity of A. occidentale leaf, and can therefore be employed in the management of bronchoconstriction and inflammation.