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Background The standardized herbal preparation, STW 5, is effective clinically in functional gastrointestinal disorders and experimentally in ulcerative colitis (UC). The present study explores whether the beneficial effect of STW 5 involves influencing the intestinal microbiota. Methods UC was induced in Wistar rats by feeding them 5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water for 7 days. Rats were treated concurrently with STW 5 and sacrificed 24 h after last drug administration. Fecal samples were used to determine changes in the abundance of selected microbial phyla and genera using real-time PCR. Results Induction of UC led to dysbiosis and changes in the gut microbiota. The changes included an increase in some genera of the Firmicutes, namely Enterococcus, and a decrease in others, namely Blautia, Clostridium, and Lactobacillus. DSS further induced a marked increase in the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria as well as in the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and its genus Bifidobacterium. Methanobrevibacter levels (phylum Euryarchaeota) were also increased. Microbial dysbiosis was associated with changes in various parameters of colonic inflammation. STW 5 effectively guarded against those changes and significantly affected the indices of edema and inflammation in the UC model. Changes in colon length, colon mass index, inflammatory and apoptotic markers, and histological changes induced by DSS were also prevented. Conclusions Dysbiosis plays a contributing role in the development of DSS-induced UC. Derangements in the microbial flora and associated inflammatory processes were largely prevented by STW 5, suggesting that this effect might contribute towards its beneficial usefulness in this condition.

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common disorders in gastroenterology. Patients present with or without increased acid exposure indicating a nonuniform etiology. Thus, the common treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) fails to control symptoms in up to 40% of patients. To further elucidate the pathophysiology of the condition and explore new treatment targets, transcriptomics, proteomics and histological methods were applied to a surgically induced subchronic reflux esophagitis model in Wistar rats after treatment with either omeprazole (PPI) or STW5, a herbal preparation shown to ameliorate esophagitis without affecting refluxate pH. The normal human esophageal squamous cell line HET-1A and human endoscopic biopsies were used to confirm our findings to the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 84 in human tissue. Both treatments reduced reflux-induced macroscopic and microscopic lesions of the esophagi as well as known proinflammatory cytokines. Proteomic and transcriptomic analyses identified CINC1-3, MIP-1/3α, MIG, RANTES and interleukin (IL)-1β as prominent mediators in GERD. Most regulated cyto-/chemokines are linked to the TREM-1 signaling pathway. The fatty acid receptor GPR84 was upregulated in esophagitis but significantly decreased in treated groups, a finding supported by Western blot and immunohistochemistry in both rat tissue and HET-1A cells. GPR84 was also found to be significantly upregulated in patients with grade B reflux esophagitis. The expression of GPR84 in esophageal tissue and its potential involvement in GERD are reported for the first time. IL-8 (CINC1-3) and the TREM-1 signaling pathway are proposed, besides GPR84, to play an important role in the pathogenesis of GERD.

•Micellar curcumin is much more active than the native extract in inhibiting paw edema induced by adjuvant inoculation.•Reduction in paw volume is associated with a decrease in inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO).•Micellar curcumin shows potent antioxidant activity by reducing the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level and raising the total antioxidant activity.•Combining micellar curcumin with micellar boswellia markedly enhances its antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity. [Display omitted] Using advanced micellation technology, stable solubilisates of curcumin and boswellia extracts with markedly enhanced bioavailability were prepared. The drugs were given daily for 3 weeks, starting from the day of Freund complete adjuvant innoculation. Solubilized curcumin showed a reduction in paw volume, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein, myloperoxidase and lipid peroxidation markers as well as an increase in total antioxidant capacity, an effect which wass equivalent to diclofenac. The native forms showed no significant effect compared to control untreated groups. Native extracts of curcumin and boswellia are known to exert antiinflammatory properties but have poor bioavailability when given orally. Using advanced micellation technology, it has been possible to produce stable solubilisates of these extracts with markedly enhanced bioavailability. In the present study, we compared the chronic antiinflammatory activities of native and micellar curcumin in the rat adjuvant arthritis model, using diclofenac as a reference drug. Adjuvant arthritis was induced by injecting Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into the right hind paw of rats and monitoring paw volume over 3 wk. The drugs were given daily for 3 wk, starting from the day of adjuvant inoculation. The serum was collected at end of the experiment for the assay of inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters. Statistical comparisons between different groups were carried out by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test. Solubilized curcumin showed better antiinflammatory activity than its native form. The reduction in paw volume was reflected in corresponding changes in relevant mediators of inflammation like tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and lipid peroxidation markers. The combination of curcumin and boswellia solubilisates synergistically produced an even more potent therapeutic effect. The findings confirm that micellar solubilisation of curcumin and boswellia not only increases their bioavailability, but also enhances their biological activity. Micellar curcumin, in particular in combination with micellar boswellia, may thus represent a promising concomitant tool for antiinflammatory treatment and a potential antiinflammatory alternative to synthetic drugs.

Background and Objective Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid with high anti-oxidant properties, but it is a very lipophilic compound with low oral bioavailability. This study was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of a novel astaxanthin preparation based on micellar solubilization technology, NovaSOL ® 400-mg capsules (Test product), and those of astaxanthin 400-mg capsules (reference product), after single oral dose administration to healthy male adults. Methods A single oral dose (400 mg equivalent to 8 mg astaxanthin) of test and reference astaxanthin were administered with 240 mL of water to 12 volunteers according to crossover design, in two phases, with a washout period of 1 week in between. Blood samples were collected at hourly intervals for the first 12 h, then at 24.0, 48.0, and 72.0 h after administration. Aliquots of plasma were centrifuged and the clear supernatant was injected into the high performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) system. Plasma concentration of astaxanthin versus time profiles were constructed, and the primary pharmacokinetic parameters, maximum concentration ( C max ), area under concentration time curve from time of administration (0) to time (t) [AUC 0-t ] or to infinity ∞, [AUC 0-∞ ],  half-life ( T ½ ) and time to reach C max ( T max ) were calculated. Results The test micellar astaxanthin reached a C max of 7.21 µg/ml after 3.67 h compared to only 3.86 µg/ml after 8.5 h for the reference native astaxanthin. Conclusion Micellar formulation of astaxanthin is capable of producing a high concentration of astaxanthin in plasma in a shorter time, thereby expected to provide faster potential therapeutic efficacy.

Intestinal mucositis is a common side effect during radiotherapy that could be largely prevented by compounds possessing anti-inflammatory or anti-oxidant properties, including extracts of propolis containing a high proportion of flavonoids. A specially formulated aqueous extract of propolis (PWE) has been prepared in such a way to preclude the inclusion of flavonoids but contain mostly organic aromatic acids to study whether it would still protect against radiation-induced intestinal mucositis and to study the possible involvement of apoptotic pathways. Rats were exposed to a gamma radiation dose of 8 Gy from a Cesium-137 source in order to inflict intestinal mucositis. Three days before exposure, rats were given PWE orally and treatment continued for 2 more days. Twenty-four hours later, rats were sacrificed, the small intestine was excised, and sections were examined histologically. Different parameters for apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress were determined in the serum and in intestinal homogenates. Radiation exposure led to histological and biochemical signs of intestinal damage. This was associated with an increase in apoptotic indicators and derangement in oxidative stress parameters. All deranged parameters were largely prevented by PWE. The findings provide evidence that the protective effect of PWE against intestinal radiation damage involves not only its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects but also its anti-apoptotic properties as well.

Purpose An herbal preparation, STW 5, used clinically in functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, has been shown to possess properties that may render it useful in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The present work was conducted to study its effectiveness in a rat model of IBD. Methods An experimental model reflecting ulcerative colitis in man was adopted, whereby colitis was induced in Wistar rats by feeding them 5 % dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for one week. STW 5 and sulfasalazine (as a reference standard) were administered orally daily for 1 week before colitis induction and continued during DSS feeding. The animals were then sacrificed, and the severity of colitis was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Colon samples were homogenized for determination of reduced glutathione, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-3 as well as myeloperoxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, colon segments were suspended in an organ bath to test their reactivity towards carbachol, KCl, and trypsin. Results STW 5 and sulfasalazine were both effective in preventing the shortening of colon length and the increase in both colon mass index and total histology score as well as the changes in biochemical parameters measured except changes in dismutase activity. DSS-induced colitis led to marked depression in colonic responsiveness to the agents tested ex vivo, an effect which was normalized by both drugs. Conclusions The findings point to a potential usefulness of STW 5 in the clinical setting of ulcerative colitis.

Schistosoma haematobium cercarial host-finding responses differ from those of Schistosoma mansoni. The attachment response to warm substrata is more sensitive and intense and is inhibited by unphysiologically warm substrata. Attachment is also stimulated by L-arginine as the exclusive chemical cue of the human skin surface (threshold 3 µM); however, the response is drastically lower than that of S. mansoni cercariae. No chemical host stimulus could be identified for an enduring contact with the host after attachment. After attachment, the cercariae creep in a temperature gradient toward heat source; their response is, however, more sensitive than that of S. mansoni (threshold 0.03 vs. 0.15 C/mm). Creeping S. haematobium cercariae orientate in chemical gradients in the same way as S. mansoni cercariae toward L-arginine as the exclusive chemical signal of the human skin surface. The selective benefit of this behavior is not yet understood. The penetration of both species is stimulated by free fatty acids from the human skin surface, not by heat. Thus, S. haematobium responds more to thermal host signals, whereas S. mansoni prefers chemical host signals.

The present study aimed to use poor quality roughages, such as rice and faba bean straw, treated with or without urea, and their impacts on digestibility, rumen fermentation, some blood parameters, and growth performance of lambs. Twenty crossbred male lambs (1/4 Finland ×¾ Ossimi, 25±1.13kg live body weight) were chosen and divided into four groups. All lambs were fed rations of concentrated feed mixture at 2% of live weight with the following roughages ad libitum: URS (control group, untreated rice straw), TRS (urea-treated rice straw), FBS (faba bean straw), and TRS+FBS (mixture of TRS and FBS, 1:1). Nutrient digestibility and feeding values improved (P<0.05) with TRS+FBS lambs versus FBS, TRS and URS lambs. The highest numerical values of ruminal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration in TRS lambs were recorded 23.9 ml.eq/dl followed by TRS+FBS, URS and FBS. Regarding to the ruminal parameters, there were no differences (P>0.05) among evaluated groups except for NH3-N, the highest concentration (P<0.05) was recorded in TRS lambs at 3 h post-feeding. Lambs of TRS, FBS and TRS+FBS showed faster growth (P<0.05) than those of the control (i.e., URS). Intakes of dry matter, total digestible nutrients, and digestible crude protein were numerically increased for TRS, FBS, and TRS+FBS. Feed conversion, as kg dry matter/kg gain, was improved for TRS, FBS, and TRS+FBS lambs versus URS. Daily gain of lambs increased (P<0.05) with lambs of TRS, FBS, and TRS+FBS but URS lambs showed a decrease (P<0.05) in daily gain. Feed conversion as kg dry matter intake/kg gain was improved (P<0.05) by feeding on TRS, FBS and TRS+FBS rations versus URS. The TRS+FBS lambs tended to have the highest economic efficiency versus URS, TRS and FBS lambs. It was concluded that urea-treated rice straw could be used as sole roughage or mixed with faba bean straw (1:1) in growing lambs’ ration to improve their performance and economic efficiency without adversely affecting their health.The present study aimed to use poor quality roughages, such as rice and faba bean straw, treated with or without urea, and their impacts on digestibility, rumen fermentation, some blood parameters, and growth performance of lambs. Twenty crossbred male lambs (1/4 Finland ×¾ Ossimi, 25±1.13kg live body weight) were chosen and divided into four groups. All lambs were fed rations of concentrated feed mixture at 2% of live weight with the following roughages ad libitum: URS (control group, untreated rice straw), TRS (urea-treated rice straw), FBS (faba bean straw), and TRS+FBS (mixture of TRS and FBS, 1:1). Nutrient digestibility and feeding values improved (P<0.05) with TRS+FBS lambs versus FBS, TRS and URS lambs. The highest numerical values of ruminal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration in TRS lambs were recorded 23.9 ml.eq/dl followed by TRS+FBS, URS and FBS. Regarding to the ruminal parameters, there were no differences (P>0.05) among evaluated groups except for NH3-N, the highest concentration (P<0.05) was recorded in TRS lambs at 3 h post-feeding. Lambs of TRS, FBS and TRS+FBS showed faster growth (P<0.05) than those of the control (i.e., URS). Intakes of dry matter, total digestible nutrients, and digestible crude protein were numerically increased for TRS, FBS, and TRS+FBS. Feed conversion, as kg dry matter/kg gain, was improved for TRS, FBS, and TRS+FBS lambs versus URS. Daily gain of lambs increased (P<0.05) with lambs of TRS, FBS, and TRS+FBS but URS lambs showed a decrease (P<0.05) in daily gain. Feed conversion as kg dry matter intake/kg gain was improved (P<0.05) by feeding on TRS, FBS and TRS+FBS rations versus URS. The TRS+FBS lambs tended to have the highest economic efficiency versus URS, TRS and FBS lambs. It was concluded that urea-treated rice straw could be used as sole roughage or mixed with faba bean straw (1:1) in growing lambs’ ration to improve their performance and economic efficiency without adversely affecting their health.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rations containing restaurant food waste (RFW) on nutrient digestibility, milk yield and its composition, and some blood parameters of lactating Zaraibi goats. In the last month of pregnancy, 30 goats (32.8 + 0.91 kg body weight and aged 3–4 years) were chosen and divided into three similar groups (10 goats per group). Each group was randomly assigned to be fed one of the experimental rations. The control group (R1) fed on a ration comprising concentrate feed mixture (CFM1) and berseem as a fresh roughage whereas the second (R2) and the third groups (R3) fed on CFM partially substituted by 15 and 30% of RFW (CFM2 and CFM3, respectively). Nutrient digestibility and feeding values were improved with R3 goats, which had the highest level of RFW (30%) versus R2 and R1 goats. The total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration in the in-rumen liquor was elevated by increasing the level of RFW up to 30% in CFM3 of R3 goats. Actual daily milk yields were significantly (P < 0.05) higher (1269.30 g/h/d) for R3 goats versus R1 and R2 (1037.57 and 1180.70 g/h/d, respectively). The inclusion of RFW in rations had a significant effect on the yield of milk constituents, without significant different among experimental rations regarding some blood constituents and offspring performance. Economic feed efficiency (relative feed cost and relative daily profit) was improved by including RFW in the CFM. Therefore, it can be concluded that the inclusion of up to 30% RFW improved productive performance and economic efficiency in lactating Zaraibi goat rations.