title: Apigenin has anti-atrophic gastritis and anti-gastric cancer progression effects in Helicobacter pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apigenin, one of the most common flavonoids, is abundant in celery, parsley, chamomile, passionflower, and other vegetables and fruits. Celery is recognized as a medicinal vegetable in Oriental countries to traditionally treat inflammation, swelling, blood pressure, serum lipid, and toothache. In this study, we investigated apigenin treatment effects on Helicobacter pylori-induced atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer progression in Mongolian gerbils.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five to eight-week-old Mongolian gerbils were inoculated with Helicobacter pylori for four weeks without (atrophic gastritis group) or with N'-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine (MNNG) (gastric cancer group) in drinking water, and were then rested for two weeks. During the 7th-32th (atrophic gastritis group) or the 7th-52th (gastric cancer group) weeks, they were given various doses (0-60 mg/kgbw/day) of apigenin. At the end of the 32th (atrophic gastritis group) or the 52th (atrophic gastritis group) week, all Mongolian gerbils were sacrificed using the CO2 asphyxia method. The histological changes of Helicobacter pylori colonization, neutrophil and monocyte infiltrations, and atrophic gastritis in both atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer Mongolian gerbils were examined using immunohistochemistry stain and Sydney System scoring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apigenin treatments (30-60 mg/kgbw/day) effectively decreased atrophic gastritis (atrophic gastritis group) and dysplasia/gastric cancer (gastric cancer group) rates in Mongolian gerbils. Apigenin treatment (60 mg/kgbw/day) significantly decreased Helicobacter pylori colonization and Helicobacter pylori-induced histological changes of neutrophil and monocyte infiltrations and atrophic gastritis in both atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer Mongolian gerbils.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apigenin has the remarkable ability to inhibit Helicobacter pylori-induced atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer progression as well as possessing potent anti-gastric cancer activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine and Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chao-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine and Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Bi-Chuang
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chun-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Sheau-Fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine and Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Division of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: dechwu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Deng-Chang
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: ycwang@nchu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yuan-Chuen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047310:Apigenin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D008297:Male; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047310:Apigenin
keywords: 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone; Anti-inflammation; Histological observation; Sydney system