Yuling Chen1, Hong Zheng2, Jingze Zhang3, Lei Wang4, Zhaoxiang Jin4, Wenyuan Gao5. 1. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China. 2. School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. 3. Department of Pharmacy, Logistics University of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Special Drugs R & D Center of People's Armed Police Forces, Tianjin 300162, China. Electronic address: zhangjingze1977@163.com. 4. Tianjin Lerentang Pharmaceutical Factory, Tianjin Zhongxin Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300380, China. 5. School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. Electronic address: pharmgao@tju.edu.cn.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Wei-Chang-An pill (WCA pill), a traditional Chinese pharmaceutical preparation, possessed potential anti-inflammatory advantages and noteworthy gastrointestinal regulations in digestive diseases, which might represent a promising candidate for the treatment of intestinal mucositis (IM) induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). AIM OF THE STUDY: To analyze the bioactive constituents and investigate the effect of methanol extraction from WCA pill (WCA ext) on 5-FU induced IM with underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis of serum bioactive constituents after WCA ext administration in rats was carried out by UHPLC-Quadrupole-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry. In mice, IM was induced by 5-FU and physical manifestations were measured during the period of drug delivery. Half of mice were assessed with histology, expression of inflammatory cytokines in ileum and plasma via hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining as well as cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, respectively. Besides, gastric emptying (GE) and gastrointestinal transit (GIT) were further tested in the other half of 5-FU induced mice. RESULTS: Twenty-two compounds were identified or tentatively characterized. IM induced by 5-FU was improved significantly after treatment with WCA ext through reducing the body weight loss, relieving the severe diarrhea, and inhibiting the GE as well as GIT. Further assessments validated that WCA ext promoted the recovery of intestinal mucosa, evaluated the activity of enterocyte proliferation, maintained the integrity of tight junction, and ameliorated the inflammatory disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that WCA ext promoted the restoration of intestinal function in 5-FU-induced IM via regulating multiple sites of actions in intestinal homeostasis. Accordingly, WCA pill might be a promising therapeutic candidate for the prevention of IM during cancer chemotherapy.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Wei-Chang-An pill (WCA pill), a traditional Chinese pharmaceutical preparation, possessed potential anti-inflammatory advantages and noteworthy gastrointestinal regulations in digestive diseases, which might represent a promising candidate for the treatment of intestinal mucositis (IM) induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). AIM OF THE STUDY: To analyze the bioactive constituents and investigate the effect of methanol extraction from WCA pill (WCA ext) on 5-FU induced IM with underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis of serum bioactive constituents after WCA ext administration in rats was carried out by UHPLC-Quadrupole-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry. In mice, IM was induced by 5-FU and physical manifestations were measured during the period of drug delivery. Half of mice were assessed with histology, expression of inflammatory cytokines in ileum and plasma via hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining as well as cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, respectively. Besides, gastric emptying (GE) and gastrointestinal transit (GIT) were further tested in the other half of 5-FU induced mice. RESULTS: Twenty-two compounds were identified or tentatively characterized. IM induced by 5-FU was improved significantly after treatment with WCA ext through reducing the body weight loss, relieving the severe diarrhea, and inhibiting the GE as well as GIT. Further assessments validated that WCA ext promoted the recovery of intestinal mucosa, evaluated the activity of enterocyte proliferation, maintained the integrity of tight junction, and ameliorated the inflammatory disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that WCA ext promoted the restoration of intestinal function in 5-FU-induced IM via regulating multiple sites of actions in intestinal homeostasis. Accordingly, WCA pill might be a promising therapeutic candidate for the prevention of IM during cancer chemotherapy.