[Protective effect of Pogostemon cablin on membrane fluidity of intestinal epithelia cell in ischemia/ reperfusion rats after ischemia/reperfusion].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. (PCB), a Chinese aromatic herbal medicine, on serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and membrane fluidity of intestinal epithelial cells (IMC) in rats undergoing lower limbs ischemic reperfusion (I/R), for exploring its action in protecting intestinal barrier and the possible mechanisms, and to seek a new way, viewing from Chinese medicine, for providing the experimental bases of gastrointestinal protection against trauma or surgical operation.


METHODS
Eighty adult Wistar rats were induced into lower limb I/R model and randomized equally into the model group, the three PCB water extract groups treated respectively with high- (4 g x kg(-1) x d(-10), middle- (3 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), and low-dose (2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) of PCB water extract, and three PCB volatile oil groups treated respectively with high- (4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), middle- (3 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), low-dose (2 g x kg(-1) d(-1) of PCB volatile oil. Besides, 10 healthy rats was allocated in a normal control group. PCB preparation was given via gastric infusion for 5 successive days just before modeling. The serum levels of NO and TNF-alpha were monitored, and the membranous fluidity of IMC at I/R region was determined by fluorescence polarization technique.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, both serum NO and TNF-alpha levels in model rats were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the fluorescence polarization value (P) of IMC obviously increased at the same time (P < 0.05). As compared with the model group, the serum level of NO and TNF-alpha significantly reduced in all the PCB treated groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). As for the membrane fluidity, significant difference was shown between the model group with low-dose of PCB water extract and middle-dose of PCB volatile oil (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PCB could effectively protect the intestinal barrier function by way of maintaining the membrane fluidity of IMC through regulating the level of NO and TNF-alpha in serum.
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin.
Yi-Cong
YC
Xie
Fang
F
Tang
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide