Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Jan 30;319(Pt 1):117115. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117115. Epub 2023 Sep 1.
The utilization of plants with therapeutic properties in traditional medicine has a longstanding practice. Among them, the well-known Allium cepa L. commonly known as onion has been valued for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential in the treatment of various ailments, including gastric ulcers.
This study investigated the gastroprotective potential of red onion peel extract and its fractions in a rat model of ethanol-induced gastric ulcer. Moreover, their phytochemical profiles were compared to identify the active metabolites.
Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and chemometrics were performed for phytochemical analysis. Ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model was used to assess the gastroprotective activity. Nine groups of rats were allocated as follows: Group 1 was the normal control; Group 2 rats were used as a positive control/model and received 1 mL of absolute ethanol; and Group 3 rats were treated with famotidine at a dose of 20 mg/kg orally. Group 4 and 5 rats were treated with total acidified ethanolic extract (T1, T2). Group 6 and 7 rats were treated with anthocyanins-rich fractions (P1, P2). Groups 8 and 9 were the flavonoids-rich fraction (S1, S2) treatment. Prior to scarification, the ulcer index in mm was obtained from gastric tissues photographed beside a ruler with further analysis using ImageJ software.
Seventy key major and discriminatory metabolites were identified including flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and miscellaneous compounds. The examined extract and its fractions significantly reduced the ulcer index and inflammatory cytokines via downregulating HMGB-1/NF-κB. Also, they augmented the expression of Nrf2/HO-1 and reduced NOX1/4 mRNA expression. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the oxidative stress and apoptotic biomarkers as well as a noticeable enhancement in histopathological changes of the stomach tissues.
Red onion peels have a promising dose dependent gastroprotective potential in alcohol-induced ulcers via modulating Nrf2/HO-1 and HMGB-1/NF-κB trajectories. This highlights the potential of red onion peels in treating gastric ulcers.
在传统医学中，利用具有治疗特性的植物有着悠久的历史。其中，著名的洋葱（Allium cepa L.）因其具有抗炎和抗氧化潜力而备受重视，可用于治疗各种疾病，包括胃溃疡。
本研究旨在探讨红洋葱皮提取物及其各馏分在乙醇诱导的胃溃疡大鼠模型中的胃保护作用，并比较其植物化学特征，以确定其活性代谢物。
采用基于质谱的代谢组学和化学计量学进行植物化学分析。采用乙醇诱导的胃溃疡模型评估胃保护活性。将 9 组大鼠分为以下几组：第 1 组为正常对照组；第 2 组大鼠为阳性对照/模型组，给予 1 mL 无水乙醇；第 3 组大鼠给予法莫替丁 20 mg/kg 灌胃。第 4 组和第 5 组大鼠给予总酸化醇提物（T1、T2）。第 6 组和第 7 组大鼠给予富含花色苷的馏分（P1、P2）。第 8 组和第 9 组大鼠给予富含类黄酮的馏分（S1、S2）。在解剖前，从用标尺旁边拍摄的胃组织中获得溃疡指数（mm），并用 ImageJ 软件进一步分析。
鉴定出 70 种主要和有区别的代谢物，包括类黄酮、花色苷、酚酸和杂类化合物。所检查的提取物及其馏分通过下调 HMGB-1/NF-κB 显著降低了溃疡指数和炎症细胞因子。此外，它们还增加了 Nrf2/HO-1 的表达，降低了 NOX1/4 mRNA 的表达。此外，氧化应激和凋亡生物标志物显著减少，胃组织的组织病理学变化明显改善。
红洋葱皮对乙醇诱导的溃疡具有有前景的剂量依赖性胃保护作用，通过调节 Nrf2/HO-1 和 HMGB-1/NF-κB 途径。这突显了红洋葱皮在治疗胃溃疡方面的潜力。
