Lentinula edodes extract increases goblet cell number and Muc2 expression in an intestinal inflammatory model of Trichinella spiralis infection.

AHCC® is a standardized extract of cultured mushroom (Lentinula edodes) mycelia with a wide variety of therapeutic effects including anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antiviral effects. Trichinellosis, a food-borne parasitic zoonosis is caused by the nematode Trichinella spp. Infection with Trichinella is characterized by the induction of a Th1-type response at the beginning of the intestinal phase, followed by a dominant Th2-type response which is essential for parasite expulsion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of AHCC® in a murine model of Trichinella spiralis infection. Swiss CD1 mice were infected with T. spiralis larvae and treated with AHCC®. Standard treatment with albendazole (ABZ) was used as control in the assessment of parasite burden. The small intestine was taken out and the proximal segment was evaluated for several parameters: gene expression of immune and stress-reticulum mediators, histological damage score, goblet cell count and Mucin 2 (Muc2) gene expression. AHCC® modulated expression levels of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines and reduced histological damage score. In addition, AHCC® diminished the number of adults of T. spiralis in treated animals. AHCC® treatment anticipates T. spiralis expulsion and increases goblet cell number and Muc2 gene expression.

Changed crystallinity of mebendazole solid dispersion: improved anthelmintic activity.

To improve the efficacy of mebendazole (MBZ), a poorly water-soluble drug, MBZ solid dispersions containing different proportions of low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose (L-HPC) were prepared by lyophilization process. The physical characteristics of recrystallized MBZ, and solid dispersions (SD) at different MBZ:L-HPC proportions were investigated in terms of morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dissolution rate. The in vivo performance was assessed by anthelmintic activity studies against enteral (pre-adult) stage of Trichinella spiralis in mice. The XRD, DSC and SEM revealed a characteristic decrease in crystallinity when increasing the L-HPC proportions in the solid dispersions. The dissolution studies demonstrated a marked increase in the dissolution rate in comparison with recrystallized drug. The considerable improvement in the dissolution rate of MBZ from solid dispersions was attributed to decreased drug crystallinity and altered surface morphology (major) and to the wetting effect of L-HPC (minor). The in vivo studies revealed that the anthelmintic effects of solid dispersions in mice were significantly increased in comparison with recrystallized MBZ (1.74-fold for SD-1:1, 3.20-fold for SD-1:2.5 and 3.80-fold for SD-1:5). These results have shown the suitability of MBZ:L-HPC solid dispersions for the treatment of enteral helmintic diseases at low doses.