Gastroprotective effect of the root extract of Alpinia officinarum Hance (Zingiberoside) against acute indomethacin-induced gastric injuries in rats: Involvement of H+/K+-ATPase and prostaglandin E receptors

Purpose: To investigate the protective effects of Alpinia officinarum root ethanol extract (AOE) and galangin against acute indomethacin-induced injury on rat gastric mucosaMethods: Sprague-Dawley rats were daily treated with bismuth potassium citrate (0.08 g/kg), AOE at doses of 0.09, 0.18 and 0.36 g/kg; and galangin (0.2 g/kg) for 15 days. Then, gastric injury on rats was induced by intragastric administration of indomethacin (30 mg/kg). Blood flow and thickness of gastric mucosa were determined using neutral red clearance test and Alcian blue staining. The activity of H+/K+-ATPase was assayed using a biochemical kit. Prostaglandin E receptor expressions were assayed by western blotting.Results: High doses of ethanol extract of Alpinia officinarum root significantly inhibited H+/K+-ATPase activity by 8.12 % (p < 0.01), increased gastric mucosal blood flow (p < 0.001), enhanced mucus thickness (p < 0.05), and elevated the activities of prostaglandin E receptors 1 and 4 (p < 0.05).Galangin significantly inhibited H+/K+-ATPase activity by 4.82 % (p < 0.05) and increased gastric mucosal blood flow (p < 0.01).Conclusion: The ethanol extract of Alpinia officinarum root attenuates indomethacin-induced gastric injury by reinforcing gastric mucosal barrier and inhibiting excessive gastric acid secretion. Thus, the extract can be potentially developed for management of gastric injuries. Keywords: Galangin, Gastric mucosal barrier, Gastric acid, Prostaglandin, Indomethacin

A Rare Case Report: Triethylamine Poisoning and The Pharmaceutical Care

Background: Triethylamine is an important intermediate reactant and is widely used in industry and manufacturing. So far, cases of triethylamine poisoning timely saved are rarely reported.Methods: A 29-year-old male worker from a chemical plant after taking a small sip of triethylamine was presented in ICU. Subsequently, he experienced repeated vomiting, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding and other related injuries. Owing to no significant improvement in local hospital, he was transferred to Jinshan hospital, Fudan University for better medical treatment. He received hemostasis, PPIs for gastrointestinal mucosal recovery, blood purification for poison removal, nutritional and electrolyte supplement after admission. The author participates in treatment and analyzes clinical results in order to share treatment methods and experience for similar poisoning events in future.Results: His gastrointestinal bleeding was timely controlled, his pain and other poisoning symptoms were eliminated. And he was discharged home safely. Conclusions: Triethylamine can break the gastric mucosal barrier, the administration of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) had a great importance. The timely blood purification for him helped eliminate the residual chemical poison inside his body, so his further liver injury by triethylamine was prevented. His recovery is good.

Allantoin improves histopathological evaluations in a rat model of gastritis

Purpose Gastritis is found to be one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases worldwide. However, current therapeutic agents cause side effects, interaction, and recurrence. Allantoin has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. In this study, the therapeutic effect of allantoin has been assessed on the histopathological indices and gastric mucosal barrier of male rats. Methods Male rats were equally divided into control, ethanol-induced gastritis, and allantoin groups. The therapeutic groups consisted of gastritis plus 12.5 mg/kg allantoin, gastritis plus 25 mg/kg allantoin, and gastritis plus 50 mg/kg allantoin groups. After 5 days of allantoin administration, the rats were sacrificed and a part of their gastric tissue was maintained at −70 °C for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) measurements. Another part was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s trichrome. Results We found that Allantoin increased parietal and mucosal cell counts and mucosal thickness after gastritis induction. In addition, the number of leukocytes and vessels decreased in both of the mucosal and the submucosal layers. Allatoin improved gastric ulcer in all treatment groups. Gastric levels of PGE2 and NP-SH increased after allantoin treatment. Conclusion This study indicated that allantoin had a considerable effect on gastritis treatment, which seems to result from the reinforcement of gastric mucosal barrier.