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Background Chronic constipation is a gastrointestinal functional disorder which affects patient quality of life. Therefore, many studies were oriented to search herbal laxative agents. In this study, we investigated the effect of Globularia alypum L. leaves aqueous extract (GAAE) against loperamide (LOP)‐produced constipation. Methods Animals were given LOP (3 mg/kg, b.w., i.p.) and GAAE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.) or yohimbine (2 mg/kg, b.w., i.p.), simultaneously, for 1 week. Gastric‐emptying test and intestinal transit were determined. Colon histology was examined, and oxidative status was evaluated using biochemical‐colorimetric methods. Key Results GAAE ameliorates significantly gastric emptying (64% to 76.5%) and intestinal transit (66.65% to 84.73%). LOP negatively influenced defecation parameters and generated a stress situation. GAAE administration in contrast ameliorated those parameters and re‐established oxidative balance. Conclusion GAAE showed a modest action against oxidative stress and decreased LOP effect and thereby can be considered a pharmacological agent in constipation.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of chamomile (Matricaria recutitaL.) decoction extract (CDE) on aspirin-induced small bowel injuries.

Background: Globularia alypum L. is a Mediterranean plant of the Globulariaceae family which has been used in folk medicine to cure several diseases. Different studies have been done in vitro and in vivo using diverse G. alypum extracts to understand this traditional use. Methods: In this study, Tunisian G. alypum leaf methanol extract (GAME) was chemically identified using LC-ESI-MS, then examined in vitro for its antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Besides, a molecular docking study was also conducted. Results: Nineteen phenolic compounds were detected, with trans-cinnamic acid (45.14%) and luteolin 7-O-glucoside (19.82%) being the dominant ones. The GAME demonstrated important antioxidant activities, especially against 2, 2-diphenyl-l-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical (IC50 = 16.1±1.1 μg.ml−1) and exhibited an anti-proliferative effect against Vero cells with (IC50 2091 ± 177 μg.ml−1)). Data also reveals that the GAME inhibited the growth of oral bacteria, in particular Streptococcus oralis (MICs value ranged from 2560 to 20480 μg.ml−1)). In addition, GAME has a significant antifungal action, especially against Candida albicans ATCC 90028 (MIC=2560 µg.ml−1)). Docking study identified one of the major molecules (luteolin 7-O-glucoside) present in the GAME extract, displaying a good interaction with tyrosinase (docking score −9.6 kcal.mol−1)) and other antibacterial (tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, gyrase, deformylase) and antifungal (n-myristoyl-transferase, chitinase) target proteins. Conclusion: This study illustrates that GAME has potent sources of antioxidants and antimicrobials useful in combating oral bacteria. Hence GAME can be of reasonable use in food technology, processing, as well as the medical field.

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The existing literature indicates that Globularia alypum L. (GA) influences inflammation and oxidative stress modulation in rats and in vitro. The present study aims to investigate the effects of this plant in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and normal controls. In our experiments, we pretreated colon biopsies from 46 UC patients and normal controls with GA leaves aqueous extract (GAAE) used at two concentrations (50 and 100 µg/mL) for 3 h, followed by Lipopolysaccharides (from Escherichia coli) stimulation. We analyzed the effects on inflammation by studying the cyclo-oxygenase-2, the intercellular adhesion molecule-1, the nuclear factor kappa B, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression. Moreover, we assessed the levels of interleukin 6, the superoxide dismutase activity, and nitric oxide release in the supernatant of cultures. Our data showed that GAAE influences UC patients and normal controls for most studied markers and enzymes. These results acknowledge, with some scientific evidence, the traditional belief in the anti-inflammatory properties of GA and represent the first demonstration of its effect in a human in vitro model of inflammatory conditions.

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