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Background and Purpose: Intestinal mucositis refers to mucosal damage caused by cancer treatment, and irinotecan is one of the agents most associated with this condition. Focusing on the development of alternatives to prevent this important adverse effect, we evaluated the activity of the flavonoid luteolin, which has never been tested for this purpose despite its biological potential. Experimental Approach: The effects of luteolin were examined on irinotecaninduced intestinal mucositis in mice. Clinical signs were evaluated. Moreover, histological, oxidative, and inflammatory parameters were analysed, as well as the possible interference of luteolin in the anti-tumour activity of irinotecan. Key Results: Luteolin (30 mgÁkg −1 ; p.o. or i.p.) prevented irinotecan-induced intestinal damage by reducing weight loss and diarrhoea score and attenuating the shortening of the duodenum and colon. Histological analysis confirmed that luteolin (p.o.)prevented villous shortening, vacuolization, and apoptosis of cells and preserved mucin production in the duodenum and colon. Moreover, luteolin treatment mitigated irinotecan-induced oxidative stress, by reducing the levels of ROS and LOOH and augmenting endogenous antioxidants, and inflammation by decreasing MPO enzymic activity, TNF, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels and increasing IL-4 and IL-10. Disruption of the tight junctions ZO-1 and occludin was also prevented by luteolin treatment.Importantly, luteolin did not interfere with the anti-tumour activity of irinotecan. Conclusion and Implications: Luteolin prevents intestinal mucositis induced byirinotecan and therefore could be a potential adjunct in anti-tumour therapy to control this adverse effect, increasing treatment adherence and consequently the chances of cancer remission.

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Commercial azo, triarylmethane, antraquinonic, and indigoid textile dyes are efficiently decolorized with enzyme preparations from Pleurotus ostreatus, Schizophyllum commune, Neurospora crassa, Polyporus sp., Sclerotium rolfsii, Trametes villosa, and Mycelioph tora thermophila. The nature of substituents on the dyes' benzene rings influences enzyme activity, and hydroxyl and amino groups enhance decolorization. The presence of lignin peroxidase and/or manganese peroxidase in addition to laccase ( P. ostreatus, S. commune, S. rolfsii, N. crassa) increases decolorization by up to 25%. The effect of textile dyeing auxiliaries depends on the individual enzymes. Polyporus sp. and T. villosa are inhibited up to 20% by copper and iron chelating agents and anionic detergents, while the S. commune enzymes lose up to 70% of their activity.

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These data show for the first time that EOPa has significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions, which do not appear to be related to the opioid system. EOPa also has interesting gastroprotective effects related to the maintenance of protective factors, such as mucus production and GSH. These results support the widespread use of Piper aleyreanum in popular medicine and demonstrate that this plant has therapeutic potential for the development of phytomedicines with antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective properties.