Beneficial Effects of Eruca sativa Defatted Seed Meal on Visceral Pain and Intestinal Damage Resulting from Colitis in Rats

Abstract

Most therapies used in patients affected by inflammatory bowel diseases are ineffective in preventing the development of chronic visceral hypersensitivity, mainly due to inflammation-induced enteric neuroplasticity. Glucosinolates, secondary metabolites mainly of Brassicaceae with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, are effective in treating both neuropathic and arthritis pain through H2S release and Kv7 potassium channel activation. The aim of this work was to investigate the protective and anti-hyperalgesic efficacy of a defatted seed meal from Eruca sativa Mill. (Brassicaceae), rich in glucosinolates, in a rat model of colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS). The mechanisms of action were also investigated. Visceral pain was assessed by measuring the abdominal response to colorectal distension. Fifteen days after colitis induction, the acute administration of E. sativa defatted seed meal (0.1–1 g kg−1 p.o.) dose-dependently relieved pain. This effect was hampered by co-administering an H2S scavenger or a selective Kv7 blocker. Administering E. sativa (1 g kg−1) for 14 days, starting after DNBS injection, contributed to counteracting visceral pain persistence in the post-inflammatory phase of colitis by promoting colon healing from the damage and reducing enteric gliosis. E. sativa defatted seed meal might be employed as a nutraceutical tool for supporting abdominal pain relief in patients.

The Efficacy of Camelina sativa Defatted Seed Meal against Colitis-Induced Persistent Visceral Hypersensitivity: The Relevance of PPAR α Receptor Activation in Pain Relief

“…In this context, Brassicaceae plants emerged to be ideal candidates, since the ITCs contained in these plants can modulate both inflammatory response and oxidative stress [ 9 , 10 ]; they also display potential benefits for the gut microbiota [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 56 ], which has high relevance in gut pain associated with colitis [ 17 , 57 , 58 ]. Several studies in the literature attest that ITCs are effective against both inflammatory and neuropathic pain by the slow release of H 2 S in vivo , and by the positive modulation of Kv7 potassium channels activity [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 25 , 59 ], which are involved in different physiological processes like the regulation of blood pressure and the transmission of painful stimuli [ 11 , 19 , 60 , 61 , 62 ].…”

“…Compounds were acutely administered as follows. The doses of Camelina sativa DSM (0.1–1 g kg −1 po) were chosen based on previous evidence [ 25 ]. Camelina sativa DSM was bioactivated by adding 30 μL mL −1 of myrosinase (32 U mL −1 ) 15 min before the administration.…”

“…ITCs also display a prebiotic activity [ 12 , 13 , 14 ] that is highly relevant in the context of gut pain [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Notably, ITCs are effective against a wide range of inflammatory and neuropathic pain conditions by the slow release of H 2 S in vivo [ 11 , 18 , 19 ], followed by the activation of Kv7 potassium channels [ 18 , 20 , 21 ], which are involved in the transmission of painful stimuli [ 19 , 22 ] also from the viscera [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Anti-Hyperalgesic Efficacy of Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR) Against Visceral Pain Induced by Colitis: Involvement of Glia in the Enteric and Central Nervous System

“…Looking at H&E-stained colon slices (Figure 2D and Figure S1), it was observed that after the interventive treatment with ALCAR, the submucosa of DNBS animals was significantly less thick in comparison to that of DNBS + vehicle animals (black double arrows), the mucosa was almost restored, and the inflammatory infiltrate was restricted to the submucosa (white arrows). An increased mast cell and eosinophil infiltration within the colon is one of the peripheral mechanisms that has been associated with visceral sensitivity persistence [3,32], and it is usually reduced by treatment that prevents pain establishment by protecting the colon from the inflammatory insult [30,33,34]. Regarding the effect of ALCAR, neither the preventive nor the interventive protocol had any effect on mast cell and eosinophil infiltration in the submucosae of DNBS-treated animals (Figure 2E,F), as clearly emerges in the representative picture, showing mast cell granules stained in purple and eosinophils stained in pink with GIEMSA (Figure 2G and Figure S2).…”

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Brassicaceae-Derived Phytochemicals: In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence for a Putative Role in the Prevention and Treatment of IBD

“…The same research group demonstrated that the water extract of Brassicaceae plant Eruca sativa Mill, displays visceral anti-nociceptive effect in a DNBS- rat model. This effect, attributable to the high glucosinolate content, was suggested to be due to the release of hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) and the positive modulation of Kv 7 potassium channel activity [ 95 ]. The Brassicaceae Maca ( Lepidium meyenii ) is the only source of Macamides, a class of bioactive amide alkaloids.…”