• Energy Research

Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. Kulturpfl., previously known as Boesenbergia pandurata (Family: Zingiberaceae) is a ginger species, locally known as fingerroot. It is an integral part of Southeast Asian traditional medicine in alleviating many gastrointestinal disorders such as flatulence, carminative, stomach ache, dyspepsia, and peptic ulcer.Earlier we have investigated the cytoprotective effect of Boesenbergia rotunda extract. In the present study, we investigated the gastroprotection activity of Boesenbergin A (BA), a chalcone isolated from Boesenbergia rotunda extract in ethanol-induced ulcer model in rats. Besides, the contribution of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant ability of BA as probable mechanisms involved in the anti-ulcer activity, also been studied.BA was orally administered in rats before ulcer induction with ethanol. The lesions of the gastric mucosa were evaluated macroscopically and histopathologically. The efficiency of BA in mucus production, NO production, PGE2 synthesis, mucosal nonprotein sulphydryls, glutathione (GSH) level, and lipid peroxidation (MDA) level were studied. The involvement of the anti-inflammatory capacity of BA was analyzed by using the measurement of cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. Finally, the expression of biomarkers such as HSP 70 and iNOS was analyzed at the transcriptional and translational levels.We confirmed the protective capacity of BA via the reduction of ulcerated and haemorrhagic areas. It has induced the protection through lowering GSH, MDA and increased NP-SH level. The plasma NO levels were significantly less in BA treated rats. Both cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 were decreased together with elevated PGE2. Upregulation of HSP and downregulation of iNOS were determined in immunohistochemical and gene expression studies CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that the prophylactic effect found with BA is due to (i) boosting of gastric mucus production and suppression of inflammatory mediators, via pro-inflammatory cytokines and (ii) modulating the oxidative stress response. The usefulness of Boesenbergia rotunda in folk medicine in treating ulcers partially could be due to the presence of this chalcone.

Syzygium aromaticum L. volatile oil (clove oil) has been traditionally used for various stomach disorders including inflammatory conditions. Eugenol is the major constituent present in the volatile oil, and it has been established as a gastroprotective agent through many published studies, but the exact and complete mechanism of ulcer protection is not delineated yet. Moreover, it plays precisely the opposite effect in higher dose in antiulcer properties with worsening the ulcer at a higher dose.This study aims to carry out the prophylactic cytoprotective effect of eugenol with single low doses and explore the probable interrelated underlying transcriptional and translational level mechanism of cytoprotection such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, mucous generation in rats using ethanol-induced ulcer model.Rats were administered with different doses of eugenol before ethanol intragastrically. The effects of the eugenol on mucous production, Nitric oxide generation, PGE2 synthesis, lipid peroxidation were recorded together with cytokines measurement in the blood. TNF-α and IL-6, two key cytokines, were also studied in specific. In addition, studies on the immunohistochemical and gene expression of HSP70 and iNOS indicators have been conducted.According to our findings, Eugenol substantially reduced the ulcer index and completely protected the mucosa from lesions. By restoring the lowered GSH and NP-SH levels, the protective effect of the eugenol was found to be augmented at both doses. This finding has corresponded to an increase in MDA, which was lowered by ethanol administration. Pre-treatment with eugenol on the ethanol-induced ulcer reduced the plasma NO levels and increased PGE2 along with a decreased TNF-α and IL-6 concentration. Additionally, significant transcriptional and translational upregulation of HSP70 and downregulation of iNOS were detected in the eugenol-treated rat stomach tissue.Our findings demonstrated that eugenol had a considerable gastroprotective impact at low doses, which could be attributed to its ability to regulate inflammatory reactions and antioxidant capacity.

Curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) are a leafy spice used in Indian cookery for its fragrant aroma.