Therapeutic applications of probiotics

En los últimos años han comenzado a desarrollarse nuevos conceptos en nutrición como fruto de la preocupación por una elevada calidad de vida de la sociedad desarrollada. Esto ha promovido la aparición del término “alimento funcional”, que se puede defi nir como aquel producto, alimento modifi cado o ingrediente alimentario, que puede proveer benefi cios a la salud superiores a los ofrecidos por los alimentos tradicionales. Las bacterias probióticas quedan incluidas dentro del campo de los alimentos funcionales, existiendo evidencias de su efi cacia en ciertas patologías, y sufi cientes estudios experimentales en otras para justifi car posibles mecanismos de acción que faciliten el desarrollo de microorganismos más efectivos, así como para defi nir los límites de su efectividad.Over recent years new concepts in nutrition have been arising in consequence of some of the negative aspects of modern lifestyles in today’s highly developed societies. This has brought about the appearance of the term “functional foods”, which can be defi ned as a modifi ed foodstuff or ingredient that can promote better health benefi ts than those offered by traditional foods. Probiotic bacteria have been included within the concept of functional foods, given that there is suffi cient evidence to suggest their effectiveness in combating certain pathologies. Furthermore, numerous experimental studies have identifi ed the action mechanisms that facilitate the development of the most effective microorganisms, while at the same time establishing the limits of their effectiveness

Flavonoides and Infl ammatory bowel disease

Estudios epidemiológicos han puesto en evidencia el papel que tienen los alimentos de origen vegetal en la prevención de numerosas enfermedades. Los antioxidantes naturales presentes en estos alimentos, entre los que destacan los fl avonoides, pueden ser responsables de esta actividad. Los fl avonoides son compuestos de bajo peso molecular que se encuentran ampliamente distribuidos en el reino vegetal. Pueden mejorar los estados de diarrea aguda y crónica a través de la inhibición de la secreción y motilidad intestinal y también ser muy útiles en la reducción del daño infl amatorio crónico en el intestino, protegiéndolo del estrés oxidativo y preservando la función de la mucosa. Por ello, se proponen como agentes terapéuticos en el tratamiento de la Enfermedad Infl amatoria Intestinal, en la que factores diversos promueven una reacción inmunológica exacerbada que conduce a una infl amación crónica del intestino.Epidemiological studies have revealed the important role that foodstuffs of vegetable origin have to play in the prevention of numerous illnesses. The natural antioxidants present in such foodstuffs, among which the fl avonoids are widely present, may be responsible for such an activity. Flavonoids are compounds that are low in molecular weight and widely distributed throughout the vegetable kingdom. They may be of great utility in states of accute or chronic diarrhoea through the inhibition of intestinal secretion and motility, and may also be benefi cial in the reduction of chronic infl ammatory damage in the intestine, by affording protection against oxidative stress and by preserving mucosal function. For this reason, the use of these agents is recommended in the treatment of infl ammatory bowel disease, in which various factors are involved in extreme immunological reactions, which lead to chronic intestinal infl ammation

Aplicaciones terapéuticas de los probióticos

En los últimos años han comenzado a desarrollarse nuevos conceptos en nutrición como fruto de la preocupaciónpor una elevada calidad de vida de la sociedad desarrollada. Esto ha promovido la aparición del término “alimentofuncional”, que se puede defi nir como aquel producto, alimento modifi cado o ingrediente alimentario, que puedeproveer benefi cios a la salud superiores a los ofrecidos por los alimentos tradicionales. Las bacterias probióticasquedan incluidas dentro del campo de los alimentos funcionales, existiendo evidencias de su efi cacia en ciertas patologías,y sufi cientes estudios experimentales en otras para justifi car posibles mecanismos de acción que facilitenel desarrollo de microorganismos más efectivos, así como para defi nir los límites de su efectividad

Intestinal antiinflammatory activity of a lyophilized infusion of Turnera ulmifolia in TNBS rat colitis

Turnera ulmifolia is a plant popularly known in Brazil and South America as chanana. Some species of Turnera are widely used in folk medicine for different types of inflammatory diseases. In this study, the preventive intestinal antiinflammatory activity of a lyophilized infusion obtained from the aerial parts of T. ulmifolia was tested in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis. The results obtained revealed that pretreatment to colitic rats with the extract, at 250 and 500 mg/kg, significantly attenuated the colonic damage induced by TNBS. This beneficial effect was associated with an improvement in the colonic oxidative status, since the infusion prevented the glutathione depletion that occurred as a consequence of the colonic inflammation. On the other hand, this antioxidant activity was confirmed in in vitro studies. In conclusion, the preventive effect exerted by the lyophilized infusion of T. ulmifolia in the TNBS model of rat colitis is probably related to its antioxidant properties, due to its flavonoids content. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.774185851552

Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of paepalantine, an isocoumarin isolated from the capitula of Paepalanthus bromelioides, in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis

The preventative intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of paepalantine, an isocoumarin isolated from the capitula of Paepalarithus bromelioides, was tested in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis. This was performed in two different experimental settings, i. e. when the colonic mucosa is intact or when the mucosa is in process of recovery after an initial insult. The results obtained revealed that the paepalantine pretreatment, at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, significantly attenuated the colonic damage induced by TNBS in both situations, as it was evidenced both histologically and biochemically. This beneficial effect was associated with an improvement in the colonic oxidative status, since paepalantine prevented the glutathione depletion that occurred as a consequence of the colonic inflammation. In addition, the intestinal anti-inflammatory effect exerted by this isocoumarin was associated with an inhibition of colonic nitric oxide activity, which is upregulated as a consequence of the inflammatory process. In conclusion, the preventative effect exerted by paepalantine in the TNBS model of rat colitis is probably related with its antioxidant properties