Comparison of the anti-ulcer activity between the crude and bran-processed Atractylodes lancea in the rat model of gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.10.066

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Volume 160, 3 February 2015, Pages 211-218

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.10.066 Get rights and content

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The rhizome of Atractylodes lancea (AL, Compositae, Chinese name: Cangzhu; Japanese name: Sou-ju-tsu) has been used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases such as digestive disorders, rheumatic diseases, and influenza in China, Korea and Japan. The crude AL and AL bran-processed are both listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However, the differences between the effects of the crude and AL bran-processed on gastric ulcer were poorly understood, and the mechanisms for the treatment of gastric ulcer were not clear. This study aimed at comparing the anti-ulcer effects between the crude AL and AL processed in acetic acid induced model in rats and evaluating the mechanisms of action involved in the anti-ulcer properties of AL.

Materials and methods

The model of gastric ulcer was imitated by acetic acid in rats, and AL was gavaged. The serum and gastric tissues were collected. The levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF), trefoil factor2 (TFF2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6, 8 (IL-6, 8) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in serum and gastric tissues were determined by the double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA expressions of EGF, TFF2, TNF-α, and IL-8 in stomach were analyzed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Meanwhile, histopathological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain. The protein expressions of EGF, TFF2, TNF-α, and IL-8 were examined by immunohistochemistry in stomach.

Results

The results demonstrated that the damage of gastric tissue was obviously alleviated and the productions of TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, and PGE₂ and the mRNA expressions of TNF-α, and IL-8 were notably inhibited. Furthermore, the productions of EGF and TFF2 and the mRNA expressions of EGF and TFF2 were significantly stimulated by both crude AL and AL processed in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the crude AL, the processed AL was more effective.

Conclusion

The AL processed had more satisfactory effects in treatment of gastric-ulcer than the crude AL. The anti-ulcer effects of AL could be attributed to the anti-inflammatory properties via down-regulating TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6 and PGE₂ and to the gastroprotective effects via up-regulating EGF and TFF2.

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Gastric ulcer is one of the major gastrointestinal disorders. Its incidence increases due to rapid development and civilizational constraints. Although the exact etiology of the disease is unknown, an imbalance between defensive and aggressive factors results in peptic ulcer (Bose et al., 2003, Laine et al., 2008, Klein et al., 2010).

The Atractylodes lancea rhizome (Compositae) is known to be widely distributed in China. The dried rhizome, which is listed in the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese pharmacopoeias (Kitajima et al., 2003), has been used for stomach disorders as well as for diuretic and analgesic purposes in traditional Japanese-Sino medicine, and used as a traditional remedy against digestive disorders, rheumatic diseases, night blindness, and influenza in China (Resch et al., 2001, Nakai et al., 2003).

According to the traditional Chinese classics, like Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu) or Treatise on Cold-induced and Miscellaneous Diseases (Shang Han Za Bing Lun), processing (pao zhi) played an important role in preparing Chinese medicines because the herbal properties were changed by different processing methods. Stir-frying with wheat bran was one of the common processing methods. In the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the crude AL and AL bran-processed are both listed.

As we knew, there was little information available in the literature about comparing anti-ulcer activities of the crude AL and AL processed and evaluating the mechanisms involved. In this study, we focused on determining variations in the anti-ulcer effects of the crude AL and AL processed by stir-frying with bran in acetic acid induced model of gastric ulcer in rats and evaluating the mechanisms of action involved in the anti-ulcer properties of AL.

Section snippets

Plant materials

The rhizomes of the crude AL, cultivated in Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province in China, were purchased in the traditional Chinese medicine market, Bozhou City, Anhui Province, China, in April, 2013, which were identified as the rhizome of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. by Prof. Yanjun Zhai, working in School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The AL processed was prepared by stir-frying with bran according to the procedure recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of

Effects of AL on the levels of EGF, TFF2, PGE₂, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in serum and stomachs

After treatment with the crude AL and AL processed, EGF, TFF2, PGE₂, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in serum and stomachs were detected by ELISA. As shown in Table 2, Table 3, compared with SO group, higher levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and PGE₂ and lower levels of EGF, and TFF2 in serum and stomachs of MD rats were found (P<0.05). The crude AL and AL processed significantly decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and PGE₂ (P<0.05 in MC, HC, MP and HP groups) and increased the levels of EGF (P<0.05 in

Discussion

Gastric ulcer is a multifactorial etiological disease. Several factors play significant roles in gastric ulcerogenesis including stress, trauma, sepsis, hemorrhagic shock, burns, Helicobacter pylori, steroidal and non-steroidal drugs etc. (Saxena and Singh, 2011). Nowadays gastric ulcer is largely distributed among populations with a relatively higher incidence in elderly people. Its incidence increases mainly because of the growing use of tobacco, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSADs),

Conclusion

The current study first reported the potential differences between the crude AL and bran-processed AL in the effects on gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid in rats. The results provided experimental evidence to support the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of gastrointestinal disease and provided a scientific foundation for the rational clinical application of AL. Based on the above data, both the crude and processed AL significantly alleviated the damage of the gastric tissue and

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81202919) and the Special Scientific Research for Traditional Chinese Medicine of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China (No. 20110700712). The authors are grateful to Prof. Shu-ru Lin of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, for her technical advice and kind help to our work.

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Research PaperComparison of the anti-ulcer activity between the crude and bran-processed Atractylodes lancea in the rat model of gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Plant materials

Effects of AL on the levels of EGF, TFF2, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in serum and stomachs

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

European Journal of Pharmacology

Gastroenterology

Methods

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Antiulcer activity of levcromakalim and nicorandil in albino rats: a comparative study. polish

Journal of Pharmacology

Tff2/sp-deficient mice show decreased gastric proliferation, increased acid secretion, and increased susceptibility to NSAID injury

The Journal of Clinical Investigation

PGE2 and angiogenesis

Experimental Biology and Medicine

Estradiol treatment ameliorates acetic acid-induced gastric and colonic injuries in rats

Inflammation

Enhancement of gastric ulcer healing and angiogenesis by cochinchina momordica seed extract in rats

Journal of Korean Medical Science

Glycosides of Atractylodes lancea

Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin

Anti-ulcerogenic activity of extract, fractions, and some compounds obtained from Polygala cyparissias St. Hillaire & Moquin (Polygalaceae)

Naunyn Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology

Gastric secretion, proinflammatory cytokines and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the delayed healing of lingual and gastric ulcerations by testosterone

Inflammopharmacology

Impaired defense of intestinal mucosa in mice lacking intestinal trefoil factor

Science

Research Paper
Comparison of the anti-ulcer activity between the crude and bran-processed Atractylodes lancea in the rat model of gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid

Effects of AL on the levels of EGF, TFF2, PGE₂, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in serum and stomachs

PGE₂ and angiogenesis