title: Protective effect of a molecular chaperone inducer, paeoniflorin, on the HCl- and ethanol-triggered gastric mucosal injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously found that paeoniflorin, a major constituent of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, could induce heat shock proteins (HSPs) in cultured mammalian cells without apparent toxicity (Yan et al. 2004). We here investigated the induction of HSPs by paeoniflorin in mouse stomach and the effect of paeoniflorin on the HCl- and ethanol-triggered gastric mucosal injury in mouse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paeoniflorin and quercetin were intraperitoneally administered in mouse and Hsp70 and other proteins in mouse tissues were detected by western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intraperitoneal administration of paeoniflorin clearly induced Hsp70 in mouse stomach, and paeoniflorin had a protective effect on the HCl- and ethanol-triggered gastric mucosal injury. When quercetin was injected before paeoniflorin administration, the induction of Hsp70 was suppressed and the protective effect of paeoniflorin was also diminished. Thus, the expression level of Hsp70 was well correlated with the extent of protection against irritant-induced gastric mucosal injury. Oral injection of HCl activated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and elicited the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in gastric mucosa. Prior administration of paeoniflorin, however, suppressed these effects. No apparent systemic side effect of paeoniflorin has been observed so far. Hsp70 was also induced in the liver, heart, and brain by paeoniflorin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From these results, it is suggested that paeoniflorin and paeoniflorin-containing herbal medicines might be used clinically as HSP inducers for the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with protein conformation and of various other pathological states, such as stress ulcers and irritant- or ischemia-induced injuries.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell & Stress Biology, Department of Environmental Biology, Chubu University, 1200 Matsumoto-cho, Kasugai, Aichi 487-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Midori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: Kiyoe
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katagiri
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Genki
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tohnai
authors.forename: Kenzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001565:Benzoates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D005960:Glucosides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000819:agonists* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006027:Glycosides
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D000431:Ethanol; D005960:Glucosides; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D039821:Monoterpenes; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011794:Quercetin; C015423:peoniflorin; D006027:Glycosides