Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) is an effective orally administered antibody used to protect against various intestinal pathogens, but which cannot tolerate the acidic gastric environment. In this study, IgY was microencapsulated by alginate (ALG) and coated with chitooligosaccharide (COS). A response surface methodology was used to optimize the formulation, and a simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion (SGID) system to evaluate the controlled release of microencapsulated IgY. The microcapsule formulation was optimized as an ALG concentration of 1.56% (15.6 g/L), COS level of 0.61% (6.1 g/L), and IgY/ALG ratio of 62.44% (mass ratio). The microcapsules prepared following this formulation had an encapsulation efficiency of 65.19%, a loading capacity of 33.75%, and an average particle size of 588.75 μm. Under this optimum formulation, the coating of COS provided a less porous and more continuous microstructure by filling the cracks on the surface, and thus the GI release rate of encapsulated IgY was significantly reduced. The release of encapsulated IgY during simulated gastric and intestinal digestion well fitted the zero-order and first-order kinetics functions, respectively. The microcapsule also allowed the IgY to retain 84.37% immune-activity after 4 h simulated GI digestion, significantly higher than that for unprotected IgY (5.33%). This approach could provide an efficient way to preserve IgY and improve its performance in the GI tract.
Alginic Acid/chemistry* ; Chitin/chemistry* ; Chitosan ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Digestion ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Liberation ; Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism* ; Immunoglobulins/metabolism* ; Oligosaccharides

Wheat dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA) is a rare but potentially severe food allergy caused by the combination of wheat ingestion and physical exercise. The impact of WDEIA on quality of life (QOL) is unclear. This study characterized the clinical and laboratory features and investigated the QOL in WDEIA patients from Central China. Twenty-eight WDEIA patients were analyzed, and QOL was measured by validated Chinese version Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) and Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM) after obtaining the diagnosis. The results showed that half of the patients were females. The median onset age was 37 years old. The symptoms occurred within 1 h after wheat ingestion (26/28). Symptoms of anaphylaxis included cutaneous (26/28), respiratory (11/28), gastro-intestinal (5/28) and cardiovascular manifestations (27/28). Skin prick tests were positive to salt soluble (89.3%) and salt insoluble wheat allergen extracts (100%). Positive rate to wheat, gluten and omega-5 gliadin specific IgE was 64.3%, 92.9% and 92.9% respectively. Specific IgE to omega-5 gliadin with a cut-off value 0.83 KU/L offered highly efficient diagnostic criterion for WDEIA (sensitivity: 89.3%; and specificity: 88.9%). The mean scores of FAQLQ-AF and FAIM were 4.70 and 4.98 respectively and level of anti-omega-5 gliadin IgE had positive correlations with FAQLQ scores. Thereby, WDEIA is commonly found in mid-age adults. In most cases, multi-organs especially skin and cardiovascular systems are involved. Salt insoluble wheat allergen skin test and serum specific IgE to gluten and omega-5 gliadin help to diagnose WDEIA. QOL in WDEIA patients is severely impaired.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; immunology ; Anaphylaxis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; China ; Exercise ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Gliadin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; immunology ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Lung ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Skin ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Skin Tests ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Triticum ; chemistry ; immunology ; Wheat Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; immunology ; physiopathology ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether recuperating lung decoction (RLD) can modulate the composition of gut microbiota in rats during asthma treatment.

METHODSFifteen Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly and equally into control group, model group, dexamethasone (DEX) group, RLD medium-dose group, and RLD high-dose group. The asthma model was established in all groups, except for the control group. The rats in the DEX and RLD groups were treated orally with DEX and RLD, respectively. The rats in the control and model groups were treated orally with 0.9% saline. The intestinal bacterial communities were compared among groups using 16S rRNA gene amplification and 454 pyrosequencing.

RESULTSThe microbial flora differed between the control and model groups, but the flora in the RLD groups was similar to that in the control group. No significant differences were observed between the RLD high-dose and medium-dose groups. RLD treatment resulted in an increase in the level beneficial bacteria in the gut, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp.

CONCLUSIONOral administration of RLD increased the number of intestinal lactic acid-producing bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, in asthma model rats.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; microbiology ; Bacteria ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; immunology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

TRPA1 channels are non-selective cation channels that could be activated by plant-derived pungent products, including gingerol, a main active constituent of ginger. Ginger could improve the digestive function; however whether ginger improves the digestive function through activating TRPA1 receptor in gastrointestinal tract has not been investigated. In the present study, gingerol was used to stimulate cell lines (RIN14B or STC-1) while depletion of extracellular calcium. TRPA1 inhibitor (rethenium red) and TRPA1 gene silencing via TRPA1-specific siRNA were also used for mechanistic studies. The intracellular calcium and secretion of serotonin or cholecystokinin were measured by fura-2/AM and ELISA. Stimulation of those cells with gingerol increased intracellular calcium levels and the serotonin or cholecystokinin secretion. The gingerol-induced intracellular calcium increase and secretion (serotonin or cholecystokinin) release were completely blocked by ruthenium red, EGTA, and TRPA1-specific siRNA. In summary, our results suggested that gingerol derived from ginger might improve the digestive function through secretion releasing from endocrine cells of the gut by inducing TRPA1-mediated calcium influx.
Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; Catechols ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Fatty Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Humans ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; TRPA1 Cation Channel ; Transient Receptor Potential Channels ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion therapies on patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS).

METHODSA total of 60 D-IBS patients were randomly allocated to the EA group (30 cases) and moxibustion group (30 cases). Before and after treatment, the gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological symptoms were scored by Visual Analogue Scale, Bristol Stool Form Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD); the expressions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R), and 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) in the sigmoid mucosal tissue were measured by immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, the effects on the functional brain areas of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insular cortex (IC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, both EA and moxibustion groups reported significant improvements in abdominal pain and abdominal bloating after treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The moxibustion group reported greater improvements in defecation emergency, defecation frequency, and stool feature than the EA group (P<0.01). Both HAMA and HAMD scores were significantly decreased in the moxibustion group than in the EA group (P<0.01). Both groups demonstrated significantly reduced expressions of 5-HT, 5-HT3R and 5-HT4R in the colonic mucosa after treatment (P<0.01), with a greater reduction of 5-HT in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). Finally, decreased activated voxel values were observed in the left IC, right IC and PFC brain regions of patients in the moxibustion group under stimulation with 150 mL colorectal distension after treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while in the EA group only PFC area demonstrated a reduction (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion can significantly improve the symptoms of D-IBS, suggesting that moxibustion may be a more effective therapy than EA for D-IBS patients.

Adult ; Anxiety ; Brain ; physiology ; Cerebral Cortex ; physiopathology ; Colon, Sigmoid ; chemistry ; Depression ; Diarrhea ; physiopathology ; Electroacupuncture ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; physiology ; Gyrus Cinguli ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestinal Mucosa ; chemistry ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Moxibustion ; Pain Measurement ; Prefrontal Cortex ; physiopathology ; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 ; analysis ; Serotonin ; analysis

α-HgS is the main component of traditional Chinese medicine cinnabar, while β-HgS is the main component of Tibetan medicine Zuotai. However, there was no comparative study on the dissolution and absorption in gastrointestinal tract and bioaccumulation in organs of mercury in Cinnabar, Zuotai, α-HgS and β-HgS. In this study, the dissolution process of the four compounds in the human gastrointestinal tract was simulated to determine the mercury dissolutions and compare the mercury dissolution of different medicines and the dissolution-promoting capacity of different solutions. To explore the absorption and bioaccumulation of cinnabar and Zuotai in organisms, mice were orally administered with clinical equivalent doses cinnabar and Zuotai. Meanwhile, a group of mice was given α-HgS and β-HgS with the equivalent mercury with cinnabar, while another group was given β-HgS and HgCl2 with the equivalent mercury with Zuotai. The mercury absorption and bioaccumulation capacities of different medicines in mice and their mercury bioaccumulation in different tissues and organs were compared. The experimental results showed a high mercury dissolutions of Zuotai in artificial gastrointestinal fluid, which was followed by β-HgS, cinnabar and α-HgS. As for the mercury absorption and bioaccumulation in mice, HgCl2 was the highest, β-HgS was the next, and a-HgS was slightly higher than cinnabar. The organs with the mercury bioaccumulation from high to low were kidney, liver and brain. This study is close to clinical practices and can provide reference for the clinical safe medication as well as a study model for the safety evaluation on heavy metal-containing medicines by observing the mercury dissolution, absorption, distribution and accumulation of mercury-containing medicines cinnabar and zuotai.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mercury ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Mercury Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Mice ; Solubility

In order to study the stability of akebia saponin D (ASD) in biological fluids in vitro, the determination methods of ASD were established in this study. Akebia saponin D was dissolved in artificial gastric juice, intestinal juice and gastrointestinal contents of rats, respectively, then thermostatically maintained at 37 degrees C. At time intervals after degradation, samples were withdrawn and the concentrations of ASD were determined by HPLC, from which stability of it at different biological specimen was evaluated. As a result, ASD was totally degraded in large intestinal contents of rats in 8 hours. ASD was very stable in artificial gastric juice, intestinal juice and gastric contents of rats. All of the above data proved that ASD was easily degraded by coliform bacteria but stable in acid environment and with the presence of digestive enzyme.
Animals ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Rats ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics

Traditional medicine (herb medicine) began to prevail again over last two decades, and it is about 70% of the world population taking herb medicine as supplement or alternative medicine according to a recent survey. The consumption of herb medicine increased exponentially in Canada, Australia and Europe during last 10 years. Since concomitant administration of herbal and western medicine has become a trend, it requires paying close attention to the problem. Herb-drug interactions have been extensively investigated worldwide, and there is an increasing concern about the clinical herb-drug interaction. In this review we introduced the current progress in the herb-drug interactions including evidence-based clinical studies and establishment of levels of evidence for herb-drug interaction; and in the related mechanisms including the induction and inhibition of metabolic enzymes, inhibition and induction of transport and efflux proteins, alteration of gastrointestinal functions, and alteration in renal elimination. We also analyzed both the achievements and the challenges faced in the concomitant administration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; methods ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; drug effects ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pharmacokinetics ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

The experiment was designed to study the mechanism of increasing efficiency of Ligustrum lucidum steamed with wine. Rats in vivo with gastrointestinal perfusion model were used. The contents of salidroside and specnuezhenide in the fluid of gastrointestinal perfusion of rats were measured by HPLC at different time points after dosing. Then the K(a) and absorption percentage were calculated. Specnuezhenide could be detected in the fluid of gastrointestinal perfusion of specnuezhenide. The K(a) of the specnuezhenide and salidroside in the fetal intestines are 0.055 3 and 0.144 2 h(-1) respectively and the total absorptivity are 24.46% and 60.14% respectively after 4 hours. The K(a) in the stomach are 5.70 and 8.26 h(-1) respectively and the total absorptivity are 34.21% and 47.23% respectively after 4 hours. The experiment proved that specnuezhenide can be metabolized into salidroside which is more beneficial for gastrointestinal absorption. The experiment proved that specnuezhenide can be metabolized into salidroside both in the rat's stomach and the fetal intestine and compared with the specnuezhenide salidroside is more conducive to gastrointestinal absorption. The results suggested that the increasing efficiency on liver and kidney of L. lucidum steamed with wine has business with the fact that Specnuezhe nide is more conducive to the body after it is changed into salidroside.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Phenols ; chemistry ; Pyrans ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Using in vitro everted gut to investigate the intestinal absorption of the extracts from Polygonum orientale at different concentration. UPLC-MS/MS was used to detect the content of protocatechuic acid, isoorientin, orientin, vitexin, cynaroside, quercitrin, kaempferol-rhamnoside in different intestinal segments, then compared the results with the absorption of chemical components of extractive P. orientale in each intestinal segments, and calculated the absorption parameter. We took the statistic analysis with SPSS statistic software. The influence significance of each factors were analyzed to describe the character of absorption. The absorption of each component is linearity in different intestinal segments and different dose, and the square of coeficient correlation exceed 0.95, which consistent with zero order rate process. The K(a) increase along with the raised dosage of the extractive P. orientale (R2 > 0.95), indicated it is the passive absorption; different intestinal segments have different absorption. And the absorption trend in intestinal is duodenum, jejunum, ileum are greater than the colon. As ingredients are selectively absorbed in intestinal sac, the everted intestinal sac method is selected to assess the intestinal absorption charcteristics of ingredients of extractive P. orientale.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley