L. extracts as pharmanutrient for stress-related mucosal disease in rat stomach.

Gastric stress-related mucosal disease (SRMD) presented from superficial gastritis to deep ulceration consequent to insufficient perfusion, ischemia, and oxidative stress. Though pharmacologic interventions to optimize tissue perfusion or to enhance defensive mechanism are essential, limited clinical outcome necessitates strong acid suppressors or natural agents. Under the hypothesis that L. (NKM 23-1) can enhance defense against SRMD, water immersion restraint stress (WIRS) were imposed to rats and additional groups pretreated with differing doses of NKM 23-1 were monitored. On gross and microscopic evaluation, they significantly rescued SRMD (<0.01). The levels of inflammatory mediators such as IL-18, IL-1β, IL-8, iNOS, TNF-α, caspase-1, NOXs as well as MMPs accompanied with NF-κB p50 activation were all significantly increased in WIRS, but their levels were significantly decreased in Groups pretreated with NKM 23-1. WIRS significantly increased apoptosis, but significantly decreased with NKM 23-1 accompanied with significantly increased levels of cyclin D/E and HSP70/HSP27. Gastric mucin was significantly preserved in Groups pretreated with NKM 23-1, while depleted in WIRS, accompanied with increased expressions of Muc5A. Gastric levels of HO-1 and NQO1 were significantly increased in Group treated with NKM 23-1 with transcriptional activation of Nrf2. Conclusively, preemptive intake of NKM 23-1 significantly rescued SRMD.