Abstract
Lythrum salicaria herb (LSH) was applied in diarrhea therapy since ancient times. Despite empirically referenced therapeutic effects, the bioactivity mechanisms and chemical constituents responsible for pharmacological activity remain not fully resolved. Taking into consideration the historical use of LSH in treatment of diarrhea in humans and farm animals, the aim of the study was to examine in vitro the influence of LSH and its C-glycosylic ellagitannins on processes associated with maintaining intestinal epithelium integrity and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) growth and adhesion. LSH was not only inhibiting EPEC growth in a concentration dependent manner but also its adhesion to IPEC-J2 intestinal epithelial cell monolayers. Inhibitory activity toward EPEC growth was additionally confirmed ex vivo in distal colon samples of postweaning piglets. LSH and its dominating C-glycosylic ellagitannins, castalagin (1), vescalagin (2), and salicarinins A (3) and B (4) were stimulating IPEC-J2 monolayer formation by enhancing claudin 4 production. Parallelly tested gut microbiota metabolites of LSH ellagitannins, urolithin C (5), urolithin A (6), and its glucuronides (7) were inactive. The activities of LSH and the isolated ellagitannins support its purported antidiarrheal properties and indicate potential mechanisms responsible for its beneficial influence on the intestinal epithelium.
Highlights
Lythrum salicaria herb (LSH) was applied in diarrhea therapy since ancient times
Piglets ingest enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) found in their environment, which originates from the gut of animals with EPEC diarrhea, or subclinical carrier farm animals.[12]
In our previous studies conducted on gut microbiota of healthy postweaning piglets, we have shown that ellagitannins present in L. salicaria extract (LSH) are stable in the gut microbiota of the jejunum and ileum and that their metabolism begins in the cecum and continues to the distal colon.[18]
Summary
Lythrum salicaria herb (LSH) was applied in diarrhea therapy since ancient times. Despite empirically referenced therapeutic effects, the bioactivity mechanisms and chemical constituents responsible for pharmacological activity remain not fully resolved. Similar results of inhibition growth were observed for 1 (Table 1, Figure S3A, Supporting Information) with an MIC value of 500 μM associated with high turbidity of tested samples.
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