Extracts from Boswellia serrata have been reported to have anti-inflammatory activity, primarily via boswellic acid-mediated inhibition of leukotriene synthesis. In three small clinical trials, boswellia was shown to improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and because of its alleged safety, boswellia was considered superior over mesalazine in terms of a benefit-risk evaluati...

During colitis, activation of two inflammatory T cell subsets, Th17 and Th1 cells, promotes ongoing intestinal inflammatory responses. n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid- (PUFA-) derived eicosanoids, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), promote Th17 cell-mediated inflammation, while n-3 PUFA antagonize both Th17 and Th1 cells and suppress PGE2 levels. We utilized two genetic mouse models, which differe...

In previous reports, a novel colon-specific prodrug, 5-aminosalicyltaurine (5-ASA-Tau) administered orally, is successfully delivered to and liberates 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and taurine in the inflamed large intestine of rats. Furthermore, the prodrug ameliorates the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid-induced colitis, and taurine acts not only as a carrier but also as an active therapeu...

Enteroendocrine cells act as sensory transducers, releasing serotonin (5-HT) and numerous peptides that are involved in regulating motility, secretion and gut sensation. The action of mucosal 5-HT is terminated by a serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT). In this study we examined the hypothesis that ileitis leads to changes in enteroendocrine cell populations and mucosal serotonin availability....

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease are numerous. This study examined the effects of two models of acute colitis on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and permeability of the blood-brain barrier in rabbits. CBF (measured with radiolabeled microspheres), or the extraction ratio or permeability-surface area (PS) product of the blood-brain barrier to fluorescein and FITC-dextran, w...

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is isolated from the traditional Chinese medical herb Salvia miltiorrhiza and is reported to have a wide range of therapeutic benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Sal B on epithelial barrier dysfunction in rat colitis and to uncover related mechanisms. Rat colitis model was established by intracolonic administration of 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenz...

3,4-ِdihydropyrano[c]chromene derivatives were synthesized using sulfonic acid functionalized silica (sio2-pr-so3h) as a highly efficient heterogenous solid acid catalyst via one-pot three-component condensation of aromatic aldehydes with malononitrile and 4-hydroxycoumarin in excellent yields.

Polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells (PEM-FCs) are considered as the most promising fuel cell technique for applications like automobiles or stationary power supplies. State-of-the-art separator materials in PEM-FCs are commonly sulfonic acid functionalized polymers, like the perfluorinated polymer Nafion. These materials show the required high proton conductivity only at high degree of hydr...