title: Study of the protective effect on intestinal mucosa of the hydrosoluble fiber Plantago ovata husk.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have indicated that dietary fiber may have a protective effect on gastrointestinal mucosa. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective action of the soluble fiber Plantago ovata husk against intestinal damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the anti-ulcerogenic effect on duodenal mucosa of the soluble fiber Plantago ovata husk, low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (10 mg/kg) was given orally to animals once daily for 14 or 28 days with and without Plantago ovata husk (100 mg/kg). 24 h after final dosing duodenal samples were removed for anatomopathological evaluation. Villi were examined by both light and scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acetylsalicylic acid induced severe lesions in duodenal mucosa of rabbits, including erosions, epithelium disorganization, and cell vacuolization, increasing as well the amount of mononuclear and caliciform cells. Damage was much more severe in animals treated for 28 days. In groups receiving Plantago ovata husk, a significant attenuation of acetylsalicylic acid-induced lesions was already observed in group treated for 14 days, becoming more evident in those treated for 28 days, all of them with duodenal cytoarchitecture normal and similar to control animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that Plantago ovata husk may protect intestinal mucosa probably by limiting acetylsalicylic acid penetration into epithelial cells, although further studies are needed to confirm the same effect in other experimental models of induced mucosal damage and to elucidate the mechanisms of fiber protection.
authors: Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071, León, Spain. amsahp@unileon.es.
authors: Ana M
authors: AM
authors: Sahagún
authors: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071, León, Spain. jvaqo@unileon.es.
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Vaquera
authors: Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071, León, Spain. jjgarv@unileon.es.
authors: Juan J
authors: JJ
authors: García
authors: Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071, León, Spain. apcalp@unileon.es.
authors: Ángela P
authors: ÁP
authors: Calle
authors: Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071, León, Spain. mjdiel@unileon.es.
authors: María-José
authors: MJ
authors: Diez
authors: Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071, León, Spain. nelida.fernandez@unileon.es.
authors: Nélida
authors: N
authors: Fernández
authors: Pharmacology, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de San Cristóbal, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. juanfrancisco.loro@ulpgc.es.
authors: Juan F
authors: JF
authors: Loro
authors: Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071, León, Spain. hoporp@unileon.es.
authors: Hugo O
authors: HO
authors: Portilla
authors: Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071, León, Spain. msiev@unileon.es.
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: Sierra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010943:Plantago / Q000737:chemistry*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D028321:Plant Preparations; D020011:Protective Agents