title: Inhibition of inflammation-induced alterations in rat small intestine by the herbal preparations STW 5 and STW 6.
abstract: Inflammation is a common mechanism of many gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, it is interesting to know, whether complex phytopharmaceuticals known to modulate gastrointestinal motor function reveal also anti-inflammatory properties. We tested the fixed herbal combination product STW 5 (Iberogast((R))) and its main component Iberis amara fresh plant extract (STW 6) to characterize their protective potential in an experimental inflammation model in vitro. The test system consisted of ileum/jejunum segments from male Wistar rats. Inflammation was evoked by intraluminal instillation of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) for 30min. Preincubation of TNBS together with STW 5 and STW 6 prevented the TNBS-induced inhibition of ACh-induced contractions. No differences were found between water-dissolved and ethanol-dissolved extracts. STW 5 and STW 6 reduced morphological changes induced by TNBS in mucosal and muscle layers. The IL-10 mRNA measured by qRT-PCR was not influenced by TNBS but increased by STW 5 and STW 6. The TNBS-induced increase in the TNFalpha-mRNA expression was suppressed by STW 5 but not by STW 6. Additionally, STW 5 decreased TNFalpha release in LPS-stimulated human monocytes. STW 6 influenced neither the TNFalpha-mRNA nor the TNFalpha release. These findings demonstrate that STW 5 reduced inflammation-induced alterations in ileum/jejunum segments. The effects were associated with a restoration of the disturbed ACh-induced contraction, pathohistological protection and inhibition of TNFalpha. STW 6 may contribute to the protective effect of STW 5 mainly by increasing IL-10 pathway but not by influencing TNFalpha.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmacology for Natural Sciences, University Leipzig, Talstrasse 33, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kelber
authors.forename: Sunna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauschildt
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spanel-Borowski
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nieber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019607:Brassicaceae; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C039964:iberogast; D016753:Interleukin-10; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid