AUTHOR=Ruiz-Malagón Antonio Jesús , Rodríguez-Sanchez María José , Rodríguez-Sojo María Jesús , Vezza Teresa , Pischel Ivo , Algieri Francesca , Rodríguez-Cabezas María Elena , Rodríguez-Nogales Alba , Gálvez Julio 

TITLE=Intestinal anti-inflammatory and visceral analgesic effects of a Serpylli herba extract in an experimental model of irritable bowel syndrome in rats

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.967644

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.967644

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Ethnopharmacological relevance:</bold><italic>Serpylli herba</italic> extract (SHE), composed of the aerial parts of wild thyme (<italic>Thymus serpyllum</italic> L.) (<italic>Lamiaceae</italic> family), is traditionally used in Europe and North Africa to treat diarrhea, gastric ulcers, intestinal parasites and upper respiratory tract infections. Recently, SHE has generated a great interest for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) management, probably due to its intestinal anti-inflammatory properties shown in experimental colitis and the fact that its active components could preserve the intestinal barrier integrity, which is altered in patients with IBS.</p><p><bold>Aim of study:</bold> We aimed to test the effects of a SHE in a rat experimental model resembling human IBS.</p><p><bold>Materials and methods:</bold> IBS was provoked by deoxycholic acid (DCA). Rats were then treated with SHE (100 mg/kg) or gabapentin (70 mg/kg) and different inflammatory and gut barrier integrity markers were evaluated. Moreover, several gut hypersensitivity and hyperalgesia determinations were performed.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> SHE improved referred pain and visceral hypersensitivity. Additionally, SHE enhanced immune status by downregulating of the expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators Il-1β, Il-6, Ifn-γ, Tlr-4, and the inducible enzyme <italic>Cox-2</italic>, thus inducing visceral analgesia, and promoting the restore of the gut barrier function by upregulating the mucins <italic>Muc-2</italic> and <italic>Muc-3</italic>. These anti-inflammatory effects could be related to its action on mast cells since it significantly inhibited the <italic>β</italic>-Hexosaminidase production in RBL-2H3 cells. Lastly, SHE also seems to modulate the serotonin pathway by restoring the altered expression of the 5-HT receptors <italic>Htr-3</italic> and <italic>Htr-4</italic>.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> SHE could be considered a potential new treatment for IBS, since it ameliorates hypersensitivity, visceral hyperalgesia, and inflammation. These beneficial effects may be due to the inhibition of mast cells degranulation and serotonin pathway.</p>