Alloprevotella Can be Considered as a Potential Oral Biomarker in Intestinal Metaphase of Gastric Patients.

Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor with high incidence and death rate. Every year, Approximately 950,000 new cases of gastric cancer occur globally with nearly 700000 deaths,so gastric precancerous lesions(GPL) was crucial and important.At present, the effective diagnostic methods for gastric precancerous lesions are generally gastroscope and pathological changes of gastric mucosal, but those methods were invasive and would bring some pains to patients and not suitable for frequent and large-scale screening of gastric cancer or GPL.This study aimed to look for a sensitive,effective and non-invasive diagnostic method to improve the early diagnosis rate of GLP, and thereby reduce the incidence and death rate of gastric cancer.Tongue diagnosis is one of the classic diagnostic methods in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).The tongue was closely related to the spleen and stomach.In the study, we collected 133 patients with chronic gastritis, including 53 cases in inflammatory group, 31 cases in atrophic group, and 49 cases in intestinal metaplasia group. and we analyzed the correlation between tongue,microbiota of tongue coating and clinical symptoms of GLP.The results showed that greasy coating was closely related to the intestinal metaphase of patients, indicating that greasy coating was closed link with intestinal metaphase phase of patients.Abundance of 209 genus were significant differences between greasy and non-greasy coating in intestinal metaphase phase of patients, Top10 were Streptococcus,norank_p__Saccharibacteria,Alloprevotella, Atopobium, Megasphaera, Gemella, Moraxella,unclassified_f__Prevotellaceae, Solobacterium and Stomatobaculum. Alloprevotella and Streptococcus were important genus markers and Alloprevotella was selected as a potential oral biomarker to diagnose intestinal metaphase phase of patients, the AUC value is 0.74.

[The gastric regenerative effect of consumption of Petroselinum sativum L. (parsley) in rats with gastritis induced by ethanol]. / Efecto regenerador gástrico del consumo de Petroselinum sativum L. (perejil) en ratas con gastritis inducida por etanol.

Our objective is to determine the gastric regenerative effect of Petroselinum sativum L. (parsley) consumption in rats with ethanolinduced gastritis. We developed an analytical, experimental, classical, cross-sectional, prospective study. We worked with 36 male Wistar rats (250 ± 30 g.p.c.) randomly distributed into 6 groups (n=6). Groups II-VI were subjected to a 24-hour fast to induce gastric ulcer by administering 10 mL/kg.p.c. of 70% ethanol via orogastric. After one hour, group II was sacrificed to observe the ulcerative damage in the stomach. Afterward, the aqueous extract of fresh parsley leaves (EAHP) was prepared, and the following treatment was administered to the other groups through the orogastric route for 3 days: group III, 10 mL/kg.p.c. 0.9% NaCl solution; and EAHP to groups IV-VI (150, 300, and 600 mg/Kg.p.c., respectively). The rats were then fasted for 24 hours before being sacrificed by breaking their necks. Subsequently, a laparotomy was performed to extract the stomach. The EAHP generated greater production of gastric mucus in the doses of 300 mg/kg.p.c. with 78.03% and 600 mg/kg.p.c. with 80.52% (p<0.05). This was consistent with what was observed histologically in the gastric mucosa, showing only signs of inflammation of the submucosa in the groups that consumed EAHP (IV-VI), compared with fibrinoid necrosis in the groups that did not consume it (II and III). In conclusion, the consumption of EAHP has a gastric regenerative effect in rats with ethanol-induced gastritis.

Collagenous Gastritis Is an Underdiagnosed Cause of Anemia and Abdominal Pain: Systematic Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Collagenous gastritis (CG) is a rare disease characterized by infiltration of the lamina propria with mononuclear cells and subepithelial deposition of collagen. Due to its nonspecific presentation, it is often misdiagnosed. The clinical characteristics, endoscopic, and histopathologic features, and treatment outcomes of CG have not been well defined. AIMS: We aim to summarize the existing evidence of CG. METHODS: According to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, we performed a search on MEDLINE and EMBASE for articles with keywords including "collagenous gastritis" and "microscopic gastritis" from the inception of these databases to August 20, 2022. RESULTS: 76 Articles, including nine observational studies, and 67 case reports and series were included. There were 86 cases of collagenous colitis in the final analysis. Most patients presented with anemia (61.4%), followed by abdominal discomfort (60.5%), diarrhea (25.3%), and nausea/vomiting (23.0%). While 60.2% had gastric nodularity on endoscopy, erythema or erosions (26.1%) were also common, as well as normal findings (12.5%). 65.9% of histopathologic findings included subepithelial collagen bands, and 37.5% had mucosal inflammatory infiltrates. Common treatments employed were iron supplementation (42%), followed by PPI (30.7%), prednisone (9.1%), and budesonide (6.8%). Clinical improvement was seen in 64.2%. CONCLUSION: This systematic review summarizes the clinical characteristics of CG. Further studies to establish clear diagnostic criteria and identify effective treatment modalities of this less-recognized entity are needed.

GIST presenting as refractory iron-deficiency anaemia in paediatric patient.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are very rare gastrointestinal (GI) mesenchymal tumours affecting only 0.02 children/million/year below the age of 14 years. We reported a 9-year-old girl presented to emergency department with pallor and haemoglobin of 50 g/L. Extensive workup for anaemia suggested iron-deficiency anaemia secondary to GI loss. Ultimately after blood transfusion of packed cells, she was discharged with a haemoglobin of 92 g/L with iron supplementation. Upper endoscopy showed incidental antral nodularity with biopsy proven helicobacter gastritis and an isolate 3-4 cm suspicious mass in the lesser curvature. Abdomen imaging confirmed the gastric mass in addition to two lesions, one retroperitoneal and one paraspinal. She undergone open laparotomy with complete surgical resection of the gastric and retroperitoneal masses with histological confirmation of GIST and paraganglioma. This case emphasises the importance of proper examination of the stomach at endoscopy and to illustrate that although anaemia is common in paediatric age group it may be reflect serious medical condition even in normal looking child.

Uncovering the Mechanisms and Molecular Targets of Weibing Formula 1 against Gastritis: Coupling Network Pharmacology with GEO Database.

Weibing Formula 1, a classic traditional formula, has been widely used clinically to treat gastritis in recent years. However, the potential pharmacological mechanism of Weibing Formula 1 is still unclear to date. A network pharmacology-based strategy was performed to uncover the underlying mechanisms of Weibing Formula 1 against gastritis. Furthermore, we structured the drug-active ingredients-genes-disease network and PPI network of shared targets, and function enrichment analysis of these targets was carried out. Ultimately, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and real-time quantitative PCR were used to verify the related genes. We found 251 potential targets corresponding to 135 bioactive components of Weibing Formula 1. Then, 327 gastritis-related targets were known gastritis-related targets. Among which, 60 common targets were shared between potential targets of Weibing Formula 1 and known gastritis-related targets. The results of pathway enrichment analysis displayed that 60 common targets mostly participated in various pathways related to Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, and apoptosis. Based on the GSE60427 dataset, 15 common genes were shared between differentially expressed genes and 60 candidate targets. The verification results of the GSE5081 dataset showed that except for DUOX2 and VCAM1, the other 13 genes were significantly upregulated in gastritis, which was consistent with the results in the GSE60427 dataset. More importantly, real-time quantitative PCR results showed that the expressions of PTGS2, MMP9, CXCL2, and CXCL8 were significantly upregulated and NOS2, EGFR, and IL-10 were downregulated in gastritis patients, while the expressions of PTGS2, MMP9, CXCL2, and CXCL8 were significantly downregulated and NOS2, EGFR, and IL-10 were upregulated after the treatment of Weibing Formula 1. PTGS2, NOS2, EGFR, MMP9, CXCL2, CXCL8, and IL-10 may be the important direct targets of Weibing Formula 1 in gastritis treatment. Our study revealed the mechanism of Weibing Formula 1 in gastritis from an overall and systematic perspective, providing a theoretical basis for further knowing and application of this formula in the future.

Autoimmune gastritis concomitant with gastric adenoma and subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.

A 62-year-old woman was referred to our department for further investigation of anaemia. Blood test showed macrocytic anaemia. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) revealed proximal-predominant gastric atrophy and flat elevated lesion in the gastric body. Several days after OGD, she complained of gait disturbance and was diagnosed with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord. Furthermore, laboratory tests showed positive for both anti-parietal cell and anti-intrinsic factor antibodies, as well as increased serum gastrin level and decreased pepsinogen I level, which confirmed the diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis (AIG). Anaemia and neurological symptoms were improved after vitamin B12 supplementation. Subsequently, the patient underwent gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection; histopathological examination revealed gastric adenoma. AIG can cause gastric neoplasms and vitamin B12 deficiency, with the latter resulting in pernicious anaemia and neurological disorders. These diseases are treatable but potentially life-threatening. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis of AIG and proper management of its comorbidities.

The anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanolic extract of the rhizome of Atractylodes lancea, involves Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway inhibition.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The dried rhizome of Atractylodes lancea (Thumb.) DC. (Compositae) has been prescribed in folk medicine for the management of various inflammatory conditions such as rheumatic diseases, gastritis and hepatitis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial properties of this herb remain elusive. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we investigated the anti-gastritis activities of Al-EE (an ethanolic extract of the herb) and explored the mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ethanolic extract of the Atractylodes lancea (Thumb.) DC. (Compositae) rhizome, Al-EE, was prepared with ethanol (95%) and quality controlled using HPLC analysis. To determine the in vivo effects of this extract, we utilised a HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis rat model. In vitro assays were carried out using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cell model. MTT assays were used to examine cell viability, while Griess assays were carried out to measure nitric oxide (NO) production. Messenger RNA expression was examined by real-time PCR. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was examined using ELISA assays. To examine protein expression and enzymatic activities, we employed western blot analysis. Nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB activity was determined by Luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: The content of atractylenolide (AT)-1 and AT-2 in Al-EE was 0.45% and 5.07% (w/w), respectively (Supplementary Fig. 1). Al-EE treatment suppressed the production of NO and PGE2, reduced the mRNA expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, while also reducing the protein levels of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Furthermore, Al-EE inhibited the nuclear protein levels of NF-κB (p65) and NF-κB-driven luciferase reporter gene activity in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Critically, intra-gastric injection of Al-EE (25 mg/kg) attenuated HCl/EtOH-induced gastric damage in SD rats, while the phosphorylation of Akt and IκBα was suppressed by Al-EE in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: In summary, Al-EE has significant anti-gastritis effects in vivo and in vitro, which can be associated with the inhibition of the Akt/IκBα/NF-κB signalling pathway. This mechanistic finding provides a pharmacological basis for the use of the A. lancea rhizome in the clinical treatment of various inflammatory conditions.

Syk/NF-κB-targeted anti-inflammatory activity of Melicope accedens (Blume) T.G. Hartley methanol extract.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Melicope accedens (Blume) Thomas G. Hartley is a plant included in the family Rutaceae and genus Melicope. It is a native plant from Vietnam that has been used for ethnopharmacology. In Indonesia and Malaysia, the leaves of M. accedens are applied externally to decrease fever. AIM OF THE STUDY: The molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory properties of M. accedens are not yet understood. Therefore, we examined those mechanisms using a methanol extract of M. accedens (Ma-ME) and determined the target molecule in macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of Ma-ME in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and in an HCl/EtOH-triggered gastritis model in mice. To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity, we performed a nitric oxide (NO) production assay and ELISA assay for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). RT-PCR, luciferase gene reporter assays, western blotting analyses, and a cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) were conducted to identify the mechanism and target molecule of Ma-ME. The phytochemical composition of Ma-ME was analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS/MS. RESULTS: Ma-ME suppressed the production of NO and PGE2 and the mRNA expression of proinflammatory genes (iNOS, IL-1ß, and COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells without cytotoxicity. Ma-ME inhibited NF-κB activation by suppressing signaling molecules such as IκBα, Akt, Src, and Syk. Moreover, the CETSA assay revealed that Ma-ME binds to Syk, the most upstream molecule in the NF-κB signal pathway. Oral administration of Ma-ME not only alleviated inflammatory lesions, but also reduced the gene expression of IL-1ß and p-Syk in mice with HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis. HPLC and LC-MS/MS analyses confirmed that Ma-ME contains various anti-inflammatory flavonoids, including quercetin, daidzein, and nevadensin. CONCLUSIONS: Ma-ME exhibited anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo by targeting Syk in the NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, we propose that Ma-ME could be used to treat inflammatory diseases such as gastritis.

Pharmacological Effects of Agastache rugosa against Gastritis Using a Network Pharmacology Approach.

Agastache rugosa is used as a Korean traditional medicine to treat gastric diseases. However, the active ingredients and pharmacological targets of A. rugosa are unknown. In this study, we aimed to reveal the pharmacological effects of A. rugosa on gastritis by combining a mice model and a network pharmacology method. The macrophage and gastritis-induced models were used to evaluate the pharmacological effects of A. rugosa. The results show that A. rugosa relieved mucosal damage induced by HCl/EtOH in vivo. Network analysis identified 99 components in A. rugosa; six components were selected through systematic screening, and five components were linked to 45 gastritis-related genes. The main components were acacetin and luteolin, and the identified core genes were AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor alpha (NFKBIA), and mitogen-activated protein kinase-3 (MAPK3) etc. in this network. The network of components, target genes, protein-protein interactions, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was closely connected with chemokines and with phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt (PI3K/AKT), tumor-necrosis-factor alpha (TNFα), mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa B, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. In conclusion, A. rugosa exerts gastro-protective effects through a multi-compound and multi-pathway regulatory network and holds potential for treating inflammatory gastric diseases.

Collagenous Gastritis in Children: Incidence, Disease Course, and Associations With Autoimmunity and Inflammatory Markers.

INTRODUCTION: Collagenous gastritis (CG), a rare disorder of unknown etiology, has been postulated to have immune-mediated mechanisms. We investigated (i) the incidence and prevalence of CG in a pediatric population; (ii) the clinical, endoscopic, and histologic characteristics of childhood-onset CG; and (iii) the evidence for autoimmunity and/or inflammatory activity in these patients. METHODS: Clinical, endoscopic, and histologic data were reviewed longitudinally in a population-based Swedish cohort of 15 patients with childhood-onset CG diagnosed in the period 2008-2019. A set of 11 autoantibodies, 4 blood inflammatory biomarkers, and the human leukocyte antigen DQ2/DQ8 genotype was analyzed cross-sectionally. RESULTS: The incidence rate of childhood-onset CG was 0.25/100,000 person-years, with an incidence rate ratio of girls to boys of 4.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.2-15). The prevalence of CG was 2.1/100,000 in children aged younger than 18 years. The endoscopic and histologic findings remained pathologic in all the examined patients during a median follow-up of 4.4 years. Many patients had heredity for autoimmune disorders (47%) and/or tested positive for autoantibodies (40%) or human leukocyte antigen DQ2/DQ8 (53%). No associated autoimmune comorbidities were observed. The serum levels of calprotectin and amyloid A were increased in 10/15 (67%) and 5/15 (33%) of the patients, respectively, whereas plasma C-reactive protein levels were normal in all, but 1 patient. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that childhood-onset CG is rare and has a chronic disease course. Although signs of autoimmune predisposition are frequent, early development of autoimmune comorbidities seems seldom. Serum calprotectin and amyloid A represent novel candidate biomarkers of inflammatory activity in CG (see Visual Abstract, Supplementary Digital Content 4, http://links.lww.com/CTG/A349).

Sorbaria kirilowii Ethanol Extract Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects In Vitro and In Vivo by Targeting Src/Nuclear Factor (NF)-κB.

Inflammation is a fundamental process for defending against foreign antigens that involves various transcriptional regulatory processes as well as molecular signaling pathways. Despite its protective roles in the human body, the activation of inflammation may also convey various diseases including autoimmune disease and cancer. Sorbaria kirilowii is a plant originating from Asia, with no anti-inflammatory activity reported. In this paper, we discovered an anti-inflammatory effect of S. kirilowii ethanol extract (Sk-EE) both in vivo and in vitro. In vitro effects of Sk-EE were determined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, while ex vivo analysis was performed using peritoneal macrophages of thioglycollate (TG)-induced mice. Sk-EE significantly reduced the nitric oxide (NO) production of induced macrophages and inhibited the expression of inflammation-related cytokines and the activation of transcription factors. Moreover, treatment with Sk-EE also decreased the activation of proteins involved in nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling cascade; among them, Src was a prime target of Sk-EE. For in vivo assessment of the anti-inflammatory effect of Sk-EE, HCl/EtOH was given by the oral route to mice for gastritis induction. Sk-EE injection dose-dependently reduced the inflammatory lesion area of the stomach in gastritis-induced mice. Taking these results together, Sk-EE exerts its anti-inflammatory activity by regulating intracellular NF-κB signaling pathways and also shows an authentic effect on reducing gastric inflammation.

Src/NF-κB-Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Potentilla glabra var. Mandshurica (Maxim.) Hand.-Mazz. Ethanol Extract.

Inflammation is a complex protective response of body tissues to harmful stimuli. Acute inflammation can progress to chronic inflammation, which can lead to severe disease. Therefore, this research focuses on the development of anti-inflammatory drugs, and natural extracts have been explored as potential agents. No study has yet examined the inflammation-associated pharmacological activity of Potentilla glabra Var. mandshurica (Maxim.) Hand.-Mazz ethanol extract (Pg-EE). To examine the mechanisms by which Pg-EE exerts anti-inflammatory effects, we studied its activities in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells and an HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis model. LPS-triggered nitric oxide (NO) release and mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) in RAW264.7 cells were suppressed by Pg-EE in a dose-dependent manner. Using a luciferase assay and western blot assay, we found that the NF-κB pathway was inhibited by Pg-EE, particularly by the decreased level of phosphorylated proteins of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) subunits (p65 and p50), inhibitor of kappa B alpha (IκBα), p85, and Src. Using an overexpression strategy, cellular thermal shift assay, and immunoprecipitation analysis, we determined that the anti-inflammatory effect of Pg-EE was mediated by the inhibition of Src. Pg-EE further showed anti-inflammatory effects in vivo in the HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis mouse model. In conclusion, Pg-EE exerts anti-inflammatory activities by targeting Src in the NF-κB pathway, and these results suggest that Pg-EE could be used as an anti-inflammatory herbal medicine.

Hydrogen sulfide-mediated resistance against water avoidance stress-induced gastritis by maintenance of gastric microbial homeostasis.

Chronic persistent stress is an important cause of gastritis, but the underlying mechanism remains to be further researched, especially the role of the gastric microbiota in this process. Here, we used the water avoidance stress (WAS) test in mouse models for chronic stress-induced gastritis to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this disease. The effect of stress on the gastric microbiota was analyzed based on 16S rRNA sequencing; the changes in hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) and inflammatory cytokine levels in gastric tissues were detected by Western blotting, ELISA, immunofluorescence, and qRT-PCR. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used as an indicator of the gastritis histological score. This finding is consistent with previous studies showing that gastric H2 S is negatively associated with the inflammatory index and might protect the gastrointestinal tract from inflammation. WAS-induced gastritis was associated with a reduction in H2 S release, which appeared to affect the homeostasis of the gastric microbiota of mice. Inflammation and microbial dysbiosis were partially reversed by sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) and vitamin B6 (VB6) supplementation, suggesting the therapeutic potential of VB6 supplementation for the treatment of stress-induced gastritis. Gastritis has a serious impact on health and quality of life. An increasing number of people are suffering from chronic gastritis linked to a high-stress lifestyle, and our research provides clues for the prevention and treatment of stress-induced gastritis.

Evaluation of pharmacological and toxic effects of ethanolic extract of radish pods in albino rabbits: A biochemical and histopathological study.

Radish pods are known as vegetable eaten as a part of diet. Though the pharmacologic potential of radish has been well known but there are fewer reports regarding pharmacological and toxic effects of radish pods. On account of this reason, the current study was aimed to evaluate the pharmacological and toxic effects of ethanol extract of Raphanus caudatus (radish pods) in rabbits after 60 days of administration. The plant extract was administered in 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg doses and effect was observed on hepatic, renal, cardiac and lipid profile. The extract was found to be hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and cardioprotective. Also it showed hypocholestrolemic potential at 1000 mg/kg. However at higher doses the extract presented chronic gastritis. Conversely, no indication of histological alterations was seen in other vital organs such as liver, kidneys, heart. Thus there is critical requirement to identify toxic constituent/s inducing gastritis so that safety profile of the plant can be established for effective therapeutic use.

Efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine for chronic gastritis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: To systematically evaluate efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating chronic gastritis (CG). METHODS: Data sources from PubMed, Embase, Springer Link, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, Chinese Biomedicine Database, and Wan-fang database were searched up to July 5, 2018. Review Manager software version 5.3, the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation profiler software were conducted for this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen studies involving 1673 participants (906 vs 767) were included in this study. Pooled data showed significant statistical differences between TCM groups and current routine pharmacotherapy (RP) groups in overall clinical efficacy (odds ratio [OR] 4.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.29, 6.56; P < .00001), efficacy under endoscopy (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.12, 5.43; P = .03), stomach distension (mean difference [MD] -0.37; 95% CI -0.56, -0.19; P < .0001), stomachache (standardized MD [SMD] -0.80; 95% CI -1.45, -0.14; P = .02), and belching (SMD -2.00; 95% CI -3.80, -0.20; P = .03). However, acid regurgitation (SMD -0.71; 95% CI -1.69, 0.28; P = .16) and anorexia (SMD -0.75; 95% CI -2.30, 0.80; P = .35) showed no significant statistical differences between 2 groups. In addition, incidence of adverse reactions of TCM groups was lower than that of RP groups. CONCLUSION: Evidence from this meta-analysis suggests that TCM could be more efficacious than current RP in treating CG. But further standardized research of rigorous design should be needed to further validate its efficacy.

Gastroprotective Effects of Plants Extracts on Gastric Mucosal Injury in Experimental Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Rubus crataegifolius (black raspberry, RF), Ulmus macrocarpa (elm, UL), and Gardenia jasminoides (cape jasmine, GJ) are well known for hundreds of years as folk medicines in China and Korea to treat various gastrointestinal disturbance. The present study evaluated the gastroprotective effects of these plants either single or in combination against HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis and indomethacin-induced ulcer in rat model. Stomach ulcer was induced by oral ingestions of HCl/EtOH or indomethacin. Treatment with RF, UL, and GJ separately or in combination was done 1 h before ulcer induction. On HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis RF, UL, and GJ at a dose of 150 mg/kg showed comparable antigastritis effect (less than 50% inhibition) with lesion index of 94.97±8.05, 108.48±11.51, and 79.10±9.77 mm compared to cimetidine (45.33±23.73 mm). However, the combination of RF, UL, and GJ at a dose of 150 mg/kg with a ratio of 50:50:50 showed remarkable antigastritis effect with 77% inhibition. The observed lesion index at a ratio of 50:50:50 was 23.34±9.11 mm similar to cimetidine (18.88±19.88 mm). On indomethacin-induced ulcer, RF and GJ showed 38.28% and 51.8% inhibition whereas UL showed around 17.73% inhibition at 150 mg/kg. Combination of RF, UL, and GJ at 150 mg/kg showed strong antigastritis effect with 83.71% inhibition. These findings suggest strong gastroprotective effect of combined extract. In addition, these plants showed significant antioxidant activity in DPPH scavenging assay and antilipid peroxidation activity. Combination of black raspberry, elm, and cape jasmine might be a significant systemic gastroprotective agent that could be utilized for the treatment and/or protection of gastritis and gastric ulcer.

Therapeutic Effect and Potential Mechanisms of Lion's Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes), Mycelia in Submerged Culture on Ethanol-Induced Chronic Gastric Injury.

Hericium erinaceus (HE) is an edible and medicinal mushroom traditionally used for the treatment of gastric injury in clinical practice. However, scientific evidence of its pharmacological activities has not yet been revealed. This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effect of HE mycelia in submerged culture on ethanol-induced chronic gastric injury (ECGI) in mice. Gastric injury model was induced by ethanol with chronic and binge ethanol feeding in mice, and then mice were treated with HE mycelia. The stomachs were removed for histopathological examination and inflammatory cytokines measurement. Meanwhile, total proteins of gastric tissue were analyzed by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) labeling analysis to quantitatively identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in three groups of animals. Bioinformatics analysis of DEPs was conducted through clustering analysis, Venn analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) annotation enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enrichment. The histopathologic characteristics and biochemical data showed that HE mycelia (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) exhibited therapeutic effects on the ECGI mice. Based on the results of iTRAQ analysis, a total of 308 proteins were differentially expressed in the ethanol group when compared with the control group; 205 DEPs in the high dose of HE (HEH) group when compared with control group; and 230 DEPs in HE group (1.0 g/kg) when compared with ethanol group. KEGG analysis showed that the p53 signaling pathway was closely related to the therapeutic effect of HE mycelia on ECGI. Furthermore, the expression levels of several DEPs, including keratin (KRT) 16, KRT6b and transglutaminase E (TGE), were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In conclusion, H. erinaceus mycelia could relieve ethanol-induced chronic gastric injury in mice by ameliorating inflammation as well as regulating epidermal differentiation.

An ethanol extract of the rhizome of Atractylodes chinensis exerts anti-gastritis activities and inhibits Akt/NF-κB signaling.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The rhizome of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) kodiz (Compositae) has traditionally been used to treat inflammatory disorders such as arthritis and stomach ache, but scanted report has been issued on its anti-inflammatory mechanisms. AIM OF THE STUDY: Here, we investigated the anti-gastritis activities and explored the mechanism of action of an ethanolic extract of the herb (Ac-EE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ac-EE was prepared with 95% ethanol. To determine its in vivo effects, we employed an HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis rat model. We used a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage model for in vitro assays. Griess and MTT assays were used to measure nitric oxide (NO) production and cell viability, respectively. We used real-time PCR to determine mRNA levels. To measure prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production we used a PGE2 EIA kit. To estimate protein levels and enzyme activities, we employed immunoblotting. Luciferase assays were used to examine nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB activities. RESULTS: Intragastric administration of Ac-EE (30 mg/kg) ameliorated HCl/EtOH-induced stomach tissue damages in SD rats. Ac-EE inhibited the levels of NO and PGE2, down regulated mRNA and protein levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Ac-EE suppressed the nuclear level of NF-κB (p50), and inhibited NF-κB luciferase activity. The Phosphorylation of Akt and IκBα was also inhibited by Ac-EE both in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSION: Ac-EE treatment exerts an anti-gastritis effect in rats. Inhibition of the Akt/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway is associated with this effect, providing a pharmacological basis for the clinical application of the rhizome of A. chinensis in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Preventive Effect of Raw Liubao Tea Polyphenols on Mouse Gastric Injuries Induced by HCl/Ethanol via Anti-Oxidative Stress.

Liubao tea is a type of traditional Chinese tea, belonging to the dark teas. This study is a basic research of the contained polyphenols (active substances) and detected preventive effects of polyphenols of raw Liubao tea (PRLT) on mouse gastric injuries induced by HCl/ethanol. High-pressure liquid chromatography was used to analyze the components of PRLT. Furthermore, a mouse gastric injury model was established to observe the preventive effects. PRLT was shown to contain gallic acid, EGC (epigallocatechin), catechin, caffeine, EC (epicatechin), EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), GCG (gallocatechin gallate), and ECG (epicatechin gallate). The results of the in vivo study indicate that PRLT can inhibit the observed increase of gastric juice volume and decrease of gastric juice pH caused by gastric injury. PRLT can decrease the serum levels of IL-6 (interleukin-6), IL-12 (interleukin-12), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α), and IFN-γ (interferon-γ) in mice with gastric injuries. Moreover, it can also increase the serum levels of SS (somatostatin) and VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) and reduce the serum levels of both SP (substance P) and ET-1 (endothelin-1). PRLT was also shown to increase SOD (superoxide dismutase) and GSH (glutathione) levels and decrease MDA (malondialdehyde) level. The detection of mRNA and protein in gastric tissues indicates that PRLT could also up-regulate the expression of Cu/Zn-SOD (copper/zinc superoxide dismutase), Mn-SOD (manganese superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), nNOS (neuronal nitric oxide synthase), and eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) and down-regulate the expression of both iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) and COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2). Thus, PRLT possess a good preventive effect on gastric injury, which is directly related to the contained active substance. PRLT show good anti-oxidative and preventive effect in gastric injury and offer promising application value.