Dietary intervention with narrow-leaved cattail rhizome flour (Typha angustifolia L.) prevents intestinal inflammation in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis

Abstract

BackgroundInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation of the intestinal epithelium that is driven by the intestinal immune system, oxidative stress and the loss of tolerance to the luminal microbiota. The use of dietary products containing ingredients such as fibres and carbohydrates and/or antioxidant compounds have been used as a therapeutic strategy for intestinal diseases because these products are considered effective in the modulation of the immune system and colonic microbiota. We investigated the beneficial effects of cattail rhizome flour (Typha angustifolia L.) in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis. In addition, we investigated the effects of cattail rhizome flour on the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of prednisolone, which is a reference drug that is used for treatment of human IBD.MethodsThe present study included the preparation of flour from rhizomes of cattail (Typha angustifolia L.); an evaluation of the qualitative phytochemical profile of cattail rhizomes; an evaluation of the efficacy of cattail rhizome flour in TNBS-induced rat colitis; an evaluation of the synergistic effects of cattail rhizome flour on the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of prednisolone; and macroscopic, clinical, biochemical, histopathological and microbiological studies to assess the healing effects of cattail rhizome flour and its synergistic effects in TNBS-induced rat colitis. The data were analysed by ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and χ2 tests.ResultsWe tested several concentrations of cattail rhizome flour and found that dietary supplementation with 10% cattail rhizome flour showed the best effects at reducing the extension of the lesion, the colon weight ratio, adherences to adjacent organs and diarrhoea. These effects were related to inhibition of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities and an attenuation of glutathione (GSH) depletion. The 10% cattail rhizome flour was as effective as prednisolone, and no synergistic effects were observed. Saponins, flavonoids and coumarins were detected in the rhizome flour. No changes were observed in the total number of lactic bacteria after dietary supplementation with cattail rhizome flour.ConclusionsDietary supplementation with 10% cattail rhizome flour and its combination with prednisolone prevent TNBS-induced colonic damage in rats, but no synergistic effects were observed. The prevention of TNBS-induced colon damage was associated with an improvement in intestinal oxidative stress, which likely resulted from the antioxidant properties of the active compounds detected in the cattail rhizome. This protective effect was not related to an improvement in lactic bacteria counts.

Halophytic herbs of the Mediterranean basin: An alternative approach to health

“…Typha rhizomes present a wide variety of chemical compounds, among them saponins, coumarins and flavonoids (Fruet et al, 2012). The compounds typhaphthalide, typharin, sitosterol, afzelechin, epiafzelechin, (+)-catechin, and (-)-epicatechin were also isolated and identified from rhizomes of Typha capensis Rohrb.…”

“…Typha species are widely used as medicinal plants (Fruet et al, 2012). In a recent study, Fruet et al (2012) reported that rhizome flour from T. angustifolia displays significant antioxidant activity.…”

“…Typha species are widely used as medicinal plants (Fruet et al, 2012). In a recent study, Fruet et al (2012) reported that rhizome flour from T. angustifolia displays significant antioxidant activity. Moreover, Londonkar et al (2013) observed that the leaves extracts exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.…”

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase: novel functions and protective effects

“…97 More recently, narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia L.) rhizome flour and green dwarf banana (Musa sp.AAA) flour both were found to decrease colonic AP activity in a rat model of colitis. 98,99 Coumestrol, a phytoestrogen known to regulate intestinal calcium absorption, was found to inhibit IAP gene expression and enzyme activity, although differential regulation was evident in the duodenum and the jejunum in neonatal pups and lasted until 10 days postparturition. 100,101 It was suggested that estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) may be involved in this transient inhibition.…”

Dietary intervention with green dwarf banana flour (Musa sp. AAA) modulates oxidative stress and colonic SCFAs production in the TNBS model of intestinal inflammation

“…Considering prebiotics can be a source of SCFAs in the body, several dietary products rich in non-digestible components are potential candidates to treat or prevent chronical diseases such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Based on this, our laboratory has been interested in studying the protective effects afforded by functional foods against intestinal inflammatory process (Fruet, Seito, Rall, & Di Stasi, 2012;Scarminio, Fruet, Witaicenis, Rall, & Di Stasi, 2012;Witaicenis, Fruet, Salem, & Di Stasi, 2010) with special interest in tropical foods, among which dwarf banana (Musa sp. AAA) was selected because its fruits in immature state are rich in dietary fibre and starch granules (Da Motta, Lajolo, Ciacco, & Cordenunsi, 2000).…”