Gastroprotective effects of Machilus zuihoensis Hayata bark against acidic ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice

Shih-Cheng Huang; Wen-Jun Wu; Yi-Ju Lee; Ming-Shiun Tsai; Xiang-Zhe Yan; Hsiao-Chun Lin; Pin-Yen Lai; Kun-Teng Wang; Jiunn-Wang Liao; Jen-Chieh Tsai; Sue-Hong Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.05.006

Gastroprotective effects of Machilus zuihoensis Hayata bark against acidic ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice

J Tradit Complement Med. 2023 May 31;13(5):511-520. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.05.006. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Shih-Cheng Huang¹, Wen-Jun Wu^{1

2}, Yi-Ju Lee¹, Ming-Shiun Tsai³, Xiang-Zhe Yan⁴, Hsiao-Chun Lin⁴, Pin-Yen Lai⁴, Kun-Teng Wang⁵, Jiunn-Wang Liao⁶, Jen-Chieh Tsai³, Sue-Hong Wang^{4

7}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec.1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan.
³ Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Foods on Health Applications, Da-Yeh University, No. 168, University Rd., Dacun, Changhua, 515006, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan.
⁵ HERBIOTEK Co., LTD., 3F., No. 207, Sec. 3, Beixin Road, New Taipei City, 23143, Taiwan.
⁶ Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402202, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan.

Abstract

Background and aim: In traditional medicine, Machilus zuihoensis Hayata bark (MZ) is used in combination with other medicines to treat gastric cancer, gastric ulcer (GU), and liver and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to evaluate the gastroprotective effects and possible mechanism(s) of MZ powder against acidic ethanol (AE)-induced GU and its toxicity in mice.

Experimental procedure: The gastroprotective effect of MZ powder was analyzed by orally administering MZ for 14 consecutive days before AE-inducing GU. Ulcer index (UI) and protection percentage were calculated, hematoxylin and eosin staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed, and gastric mucus weights were measured. The antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, and possible signaling pathway(s) were studied.

Results and conclusion: Pretreatment with MZ (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly decreased 10 μL/g AE-induced mucosal hemorrhage, edema, inflammation, and UI, resulted in protection percentages of 88.9% and 93.4%, respectively. MZ pretreatment reduced AE-induced oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde level and restoring superoxide dismutase activity. MZ pretreatment demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by reducing both serum and gastric tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β levels. Furthermore, MZ pretreatment exhibited anti-apoptotic effect by decreasing Bcl-2 associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma 2 ratio. The gastroprotective mechanisms of MZ involved inactivations of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Otherwise, 200 mg/kg MZ didn't induce liver or kidney toxicity. In conclusion, MZ protects AE-induced GU through mucus secreting, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, and inhibitions of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Keywords: Anti-inflammation; Antioxidation; Gastroprotection; MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways; Mucus secretion.