Effect of biologically active fraction of Nardostachys jatamansi on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the fraction of Nardostachys jatamansi (NJ) has the potential to ameliorate the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP).


METHODS
Mice were administered the biologically active fraction of NJ, i.e., the 4th fraction (NJ4), intraperitoneally, and then injected with the stable cholecystokinin analogue cerulein hourly for 6 h. Six hours after the last cerulein injection, the pancreas, lung, and blood were harvested for morphological examination, measurement of cytokine expression, and examination of neutrophil infiltration.


RESULTS
NJ4 administration attenuated the severity of AP and lung injury associated with AP. It also reduced cytokine production and neutrophil infiltration and resulted in the in vivo up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Furthermore, NJ4 and its biologically active fraction, NJ4-2 inhibited the cerulein-induced death of acinar cells by inducing HO-1 in isolated pancreatic acinar cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that NJ4 may be a candidate fraction offering protection in AP and NJ4 might ameliorate the severity of pancreatitis by inducing HO-1 expression.
Department of Herbology, School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 540-749, South Korea.
Gi-Sang
GS
Bae
Min-Sun
MS
Kim
Kyoung-Chel
KC
Park
Bon Soon
BS
Koo
Il-Joo
IJ
Jo
Sun Bok
SB
Choi
Dong-Sung
DS
Lee
Youn-Chul
YC
Kim
Tae-Hyeon
TH
Kim
Sang-Wan
SW
Seo
Yong Kook
YK
Shin
Ho-Joon
HJ
Song
Sung-Joo
SJ
Park
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002108:Ceruletide; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D032404:Nardostachys / Q000737:chemistry; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
D016207:Cytokines; D004798:Enzymes; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002108:Ceruletide; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C496542:Hmox1 protein, mouse