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This study investigated the influence of Salvia barrelieri (SBA) methanol and decocted extracts (ME and DE) on intestinal transit (IT) and gastric emptying (GE) in mice. Only the doses of ME SBA induced a strong inhibition of GE at 46.82 ± 4.34, 54.71 ± 3.29 and 48.45 ± 1.33% (P≤0.0001) for the dosages 100, 200 or 400 mg·kg-1 respectively. The extracts by themselves had no effects on intestinal movement (only a slight, non–significant increase at 400 mg·kg-1). However, blocking muscarinic receptors resulted in a decrease in IT by 10.34 and 17.53% with ME and DE extracts, respectively, compared to control. Conversely, co–administration with L–arginine (Nitric Oxide donor) significantly decreased transit (47.31 and 50.80% for ME and DE, respectively), while inhibiting Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) with L–Nω–Nitro–Arginine (L–NNA) had a smaller effect (12.24 and 17.24% for ME and ED, respectively). Only ME SBA extracts significantly inhibited GE (46.82–54.71% decrease across doses), mimicking atropine’s effect. DE extracts and combining ME with atropine showed no significant impact. Interestingly, L–arginine only affected emptying with DE SBA (27.8% decrease), not ME SBA. Inhibiting NOS partially blocked the effect of ME SBA. These findings suggest that ME SBA extracts primarily target GE through mechanisms involving both muscarinic and NO pathways, while DE extracts have minimal effects. This study highlights the intricate interplay of pathways in gut function and the potential influence of extract type and formulation on their effectiveness.

Background and aim: Echinodorus macrophyllus (Kunth.) Micheli is popularly used for acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. The anti-inflammatory activity was previously demonstrated for its flavonoid-enriched fractions. The aim of this work assessed the antinociceptive properties of both aqueous extract and its fractions. Experimental procedure: The antinociceptive activity was determined by acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin test, tail immersion test, hot-plate test, xylene-induced ear edema methods, and the evaluation of its mechanism was performed in the writhing model. The aqueous extract of Echinodorus macrophyllus (AEEm) was fractionated, yielding Fr20, and Fr40. Fr40 composition was determined by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. Results and conclusion: Fr20 (all doses) and Fr40 (100 mg/kg) reduced the nociception in the tail-flick model. Both fractions increased the percentage of maximum possible effect with 25 mg/kg, in the hot-plate assay, at 60 min, while AEEm reduced pain only with 50 and 100 mg/kg. There was a reduction in xylene-edema index, with Fr40 (25 mg/kg), AEEm (50 mg/kg) and Fr20 (50 mg/kg). All doses of AEEm, Fr20, and Fr40 reduced both phases of the formalin model. In the abdominal contortion model, Fr40 presented the highest activity, reducing 96% of contortions and its antinociceptive mechanism was evaluated. The results indicated the involvement of NO and adrenergic activation pathways. The main components of Fr40 are swertisin, swertiajaponin, isoorientin 7,3′-dimethyl ether, swertisin-O-rhamnoside, isoorientin, isovitexin, isovitexin-Orhamnoside, and isovitexin-7-O-glucoside. The aqueous extract of E. macrophyllus leaves and its fractions exhibited significant analgesic effect, mediated through both peripheral and central mechanisms being considered a potentially antinociceptive drug.

Little is known how L-arginine (Arg) affects the ovine intestinal epithelial cells (IOECs) redox status induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This study aimed to examine the impact of Arg on IOECs subjected to H2O2-induced oxidative damage, intestinal barrier injury, and inflammatory response. The IOECs were incubated for 16 h then classified as four groups (n = 6/group) and cultured in corresponding media including (1) control (CON) group, in which IOECs were cultured in Arg-free Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s F12 Ham medium (DMEM) containing 100 μM Arg; (2) Arg group, in which IOECs were cultured in Arg-free DMEM containing 350 μM Arg; (3) H2O2 group, in which IOECs were cultured in CON group plus 150 μM H2O2; (4) Arg + H2O2 group, in which IOECs were cultured in Arg group plus150 μM H2O2. After culturing for 24 h in media, some characteristics of cells in the four groups were measured. Arg administration decreased the H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared with the H2O2 group (p