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We investigated the effects of an ethanolic extract of Myrtus communis subsp. communis (MC) leaves on the pancreases of rats fed with a high fat diet (HFD). Wistar albino rats were fed either with standard lab chow (Control group) or with a 45% fat diet (HFD and HFD+MC groups) for 4 months, with the MC extract (100 mg/kg) being administered by orogastric gavage to rats in the HFD+MC group during the last month. Blood and pancreas samples were collected from all experimental groups at the end of the study. Insulin and leptin levels, and the lipid profile, were analyzed in the blood serum. Pancreatic injury was assessed histologically. Insulin, nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were assessed using immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis was assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) immunohistochemistry. In addition, oxidant/antioxidant activity was analyzed by biochemical methods. Increased body weight, serum insulin and leptin levels, blood glucose level and pancreatic tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and decreased tissue glutathione (GSH) level were observed in the HFD group compared to the Control group, in addition to dyslipidemia. An increased histopathological damage score, pancreatic islet area, insulin, TUNEL, NF-κB and α-SMA immunoreactivity were seen in animals from the HFD group compared to the Control group. However, such pathological changes were reduced in the HFD+MC group. Our data indicate further investigation of MC extract as a therapeutic adjuvant for HFD-induced pancreatic injury, acting via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms, is worth carrying out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex disease with an incompletely understood multifactorial etiopathogenesis. The importance of intestinal microbiota in IBD and the role of probiotics in the treatment are being extensively investigated. This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, Lactobacillus reuteri, Saccharomyces boulardii and Bacillus clausii in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis animal model. Rats were randomly grouped into 7: control, colitis, colitis+BB-12, colitis+L. reuteri, colitis+S. boulardii, colitis+B. clausii and colitis+methylprednisolone (positive control) treatment groups. Colitis was induced by the administration of intracolonically 80 mg/kg TNBS. Treatments continued for 7 days. Body weight, stool consistency, rectal bleeding, and disease activity index (DAI) scores were evaluated and recorded daily. Macroscopic and microscopic colonic damage were evaluated and scored in the last day of experiment. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and (GSH) and activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the colonic tissues were detected by ELISA. Our results showed that treatments with BB-12, L. reuteri, S. boulardii and B. clausii significantly improved on clinical symptoms and decreased macroscopic and microscopic colonic damage on experimental colitis in rats. In addition, L. reuteri and S. boulardii significantly increased GSH levels and decreased MDA levels and MPO activity. When we evaluate our findings, we think that supplements of these specific probiotics may have beneficial effects in the treatment of IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]