Grape seed extract improves parameters of small intestinal mucositis in a dose responsive manner in rats

KY Cheah, GS Howart, SEP Bastia

Grape seed extract: a potential adjunct to chemotherapy?

Ker Y Cheah, Gordon S Howarth, Susan EP Bastia

Intestinal homeostasis is restored in mice following a period of intestinal growth induced by orally administered Emu Oil

Previously, we reported that orally administered Emu Oil (EO) increases mucosal thickness in the small intestine and colon in rodent models of chemotherapy-induced mucositis and colitis. However, it remains unclear whether mucosal thickening (crypt and villus lengthening) represents a process of normal or aberrant growth. We sought to determine if villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) measurements returned to normal in EO-treated rats following withdrawal of EO therapy. Dark agouti rats (n = 8/group) were gavaged daily for 10 days with water, olive oil (OO), or EO (0.5 mL or 1 mL). Groups of rats were euthanized on days 10 and 17. Intestinal weights, lengths, VH, and CD were quantified. P < 0.05 was considered significant. On day 10, jejuno–ileum weight was increased by OO (26%) and EO (0.5 mL: 15%; 1 mL: 29%) compared to water controls (P < 0.01), which was normalized by day 17. On days 10 and 17, jejuno-ileum length was greater in OO- (12%) and EO-treated rats (0.5 mL: 8%; 1 mL: 12%; P < 0.05), relative to water controls. On day 10, OO and EO increased ileal VH (OO: 32%; 0.5 EO: 22%; EO: 35%; P < 0.01) and CD (OO: 17%; 0.5 EO: 13%; EO: 22%) compared to water controls. Importantly, however, after withdrawal of all oils, VH and CD measurements returned to normal control values. Moreover, the VH:CD ratio (potential indicator of dysplasia) remained unchanged in all experimental groups on days 10 and 17. The restoration of normal intestinal architecture following cessation of Emu Oil therapy supports its safety for application in intestinal disorders.Suzanne Mashtoub, Ker Y Cheah, Kerry A Lymn and Gordon S Howart

Grape seed procyanidin fractions enhance the impact of 5-Fluorouracil chemotherapy on colon cancer cells

NutritionKY Cheah, GS Howarth, KA Bindon, JA Kennedy, SEP Bastia

Comparative effects of mistletoe extracts and 5-Fluorouracil chemotherapy on viability of Caco-2 and IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells

Poster PresentationZahra Lotfollahi, Gordon S Howarth, Ljubov Simson, Ker Y Cheah and Susan EP Bastia

Anti-GAD antibodies in Chinese patients with youth and adult-onset IDDM and NIDDM

10.1007/s001250050845Diabetologia40121425-1430DBTG

Mucosal stimulation following oral administration of Emu Oil represents a process of normal intestinal growth in rats

Background: The therapeutic properties of emu oil have been attributed to its omega fatty acid composition. Orally-administered emu oil has previously been shown to increase intestinal crypt depth following chemotherapy-induced mucositis. However, the impact of emu oil on cell kinetics remains unclear. It was hypothesised that 10 days’ oral-administration of emu oil to normal rats would increase crypt cell proliferation, returning to normal levels on day 17 following emu oil withdrawal. Aim: To determine the impact of emu oil on intestinal cell proliferation in normal rats. Methods: Female Dark Agouti (DA) rats (n=8/group) were treated with either water (1ml), olive oil (1ml) or emu oil (0.5ml or 1 ml) via gavage for 10 days and were euthanised on days 10 and 17. Crypt depth measurements and crypt cell counts were conducted on jejunal and ileal specimens. To assess proliferation, sections were immunohistochemically stained for Ki67. Results: On day 10, emu oil increased crypt depth (22%) compared to water control (p0.05). Emu oil increased Ki67 positive cells per crypt (40%) compared to water control (30%; p<0.05). Conclusion: Emu oil administration increased crypt depth by stimulating cell proliferation as opposed to the process of hypertrophy. Restoration of normal intestinal growth following cessation of emu oil administration supports its safety for application in intestinal disorders.Scott J Barker, Gordon S Howarth, Lauren C Chartier, Benjamin L Scherer, and Suzanne Mashtou

Effects of grape seed extract in a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease

TMV Acott, K-Y Cheah, KA Lymn, SEP Bastian, RN Butler, GS Howart