# Alpinumisoflavone ameliorates experimental acute reflux esophagitis in rats via regulation of inflammatory pathway

## TL;DR

Alpinumisoflavone reduces inflammation and damage in rat models of acute reflux esophagitis by modulating inflammatory pathways.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates alpinumisoflavone's novel anti-inflammatory effects in treating acute reflux esophagitis in rats.

## Key findings

- Alpinumisoflavone significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in rats.
- Treatment improved esophageal damage scores and gastric pH while suppressing oxidative stress markers.
- The compound modulated inflammatory pathways including COX-2, PGE2, and NF-κB.

## Abstract

To scrutinize the protective effect of alpinumisoflavone against the acute reflux esophagitis (RE) in the rats and to explore the underlying mechanism.

RAW 264.7 cells were used for in-vitro study, and MTT assay was used to access the cell viability. The cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and estimation the inflammatory cytokines and parameters. A surgical procedure was performed for the induction of RE followed by the oral administration of alpinumisoflavone (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg). The esophagitis lesion score, gross esophageal score, damage ratio, pH and gastric volume, NO level, alcian blue, H2O2, free iron, calcium, antioxidant, inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory parameters were estimated.

Alpinumisoflavone treatment significantly (p < 0.001) suppressed cell viability and NO levels, along with a reduction in inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and inflammatory parameters such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E22 (PGE2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) against the LPS treatment. Alpinumisoflavone treated group rats suppressed the esophagitis lesion score, gross esophageal score damage ratio, and gastric volume and improved the pH level. Alpinumisoflavone treatment significantly (p < 0.001) suppressed the level of NO level, alcian blue, H2O2, free iron and calcium. Alpinumisoflavone significantly (p < 0.001) altered the level of antioxidant parameters such as malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase; inflammatory cytokines viz., TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-18; and inflammatory parameters including COX-2, NF-κB, and PGE2.

Alpinumisoflavone ameliorates the acute reflux esophagitis via suppression of inflammatory parameters.