Polyphenol extract from evening primrose pomace alleviates experimental colitis after intracolonic and oral administration in mice

Oenothera paradoxa (EP) preparations are commonly used in folk medicine to treat skin diseases, neuralgia, and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Several reports suggested that EP preparations exhibit potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we aimed to characterize the action of EP pomace polyphenol extract in mouse model of colitis. We analyzed the composition of EP pomace polyphenol extract using reversed phase HPLC system and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) system coupled with a quadrupole-time of flight (Q-TOF) MS instrument. Then, we used a well-established animal model of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis to determine the anti-inflammatory action of EP pomace polyphenol extract. We also investigated the effect of the EP pomace polyphenol extract on pro-inflammatory (IL-1β and TNF-α) cytokine mRNA levels and hydrogen peroxide concentration in the inflamed colon. Administration of EP pomace polyphenol extract significantly improved macroscopic and microscopic damage scores, as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in TNBS-treated mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extract was observed after intracolonic and oral administration and was dose-dependent. Significant reduction of tissue hydrogen peroxide level after treatment with EP pomace polyphenol extract suggests that its therapeutic effect is a result of free radical scavenging. This novel finding indicates that the application of the EP pomace polyphenol extract in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) may become an attractive supplementary treatment for conventional anti-inflammatory therapy.The authors wish to thank Dr. Alicja Z. Kucharska from the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences for determining the composition of polyphenolic compounds by UPLC-QTOF-MS. This study was supported by the bilateral cooperation between Poland and China, the Iuventus Plus program of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (0107/IP1/2013/72 to JF), and Medical University of Lodz (502-03/1-156-02/502-14-140 to M Sałaga and 503/ 1-156-04/503-01)

The spirit of adult learning Essays in honour of Ralph Ruddock

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:9342.8841(97/03) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Persistent photoconductivity in ZnO thin films grown on Si substrate by spin coating method

Photoluminescence (PL) and photoconductivity (PC) have been studied in ZnO thin films grown on Si substrates by a spin-coating method. The PL spectra of ZnO films, studied under synchrotron radiation excitation in ZnO fundamental absorption range at 10 K, show the dominant UV emission band with two maxima at 3.28 and 3.235 eV corresponding to the luminescence of localized excitons around neutral and charged donors and acceptors, respectively. The PC measurements of ZnO films were performed in the air and in a vacuum. The UV irradiation of ZnO films results in the appearance of induced photocurrent. The dependence of photocurrent value in air/vacuum atmosphere on the intensity of UV radiation was investigated

Alterations of colonic sensitivity and gastric dysmotility after acute cisplatin and granisetron

[Background] Cisplatin is a highly emetogenic antineoplastic drug and induces peripheral neuropathy when given in cycles. Granisetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, is clinically used to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea/emesis and abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome. The effects of cisplatin on visceral sensitivity and those of granisetron in the context of cancer chemotherapy are not well known. [Methods] Adult male Wistar rats received two intraperitoneal injections 30 minutes apart: granisetron (1 mg kg)/vehicle and cisplatin (6 mg kg)/vehicle. Thereafter, nausea-like behavior was measured as bedding intake for 4 hours, and gastric dysmotility was measured radiographically for 8 hours. Gastric weight and size were determined ex vivo and samples of the forestomach, corpus, ileum, and colon were obtained for histological analysis at 4 and 30 hours after cisplatin/vehicle. Visceral sensitivity was measured as abdominal contractions in response to mechanical intracolonic stimulation 2 hours after cisplatin/vehicle. [Key Results] Cisplatin-induced bedding intake and gastric dysmotility, and granisetron blocked these effects, which occurred in the absence of frank mucositis. Visceral sensitivity was reduced to a similar extent by both drugs alone or in combination. [Conclusions and Inferences] Cisplatin-induced bedding intake and gastric dysmotility were blocked by granisetron, confirming the involvement of serotonin acting on 5-HT3 receptors. Unexpectedly, visceral sensitivity to colonic distension was reduced, to the same extent, by cisplatin, granisetron, and their combination, suggesting important mechanistic differences with nausea and gastric dysmotility that warrant further investigation.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF2012‐40075‐C02‐01). L. Blanco had a contract by Consejería de Educación, Juventud y Deporte from Comunidad de Madrid and Fondo Social Europeo (PEJ15/BIO/TL‐0580).Peer Reviewe