Z Gastroenterol 2006; 44 - A121
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-943487

Beneficial effect of zerumbone on cholecystokinin-octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis in rats

A Szabolcs 1, L Tiszlavicz 2, J Kaszaki 3, C Varga 4, A Pósa 4, A Berkó 4, J Lonovics 1, T Takács 1
  • 11st Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary
  • 2Department of Pathology, University of Szeged, Hungary
  • 3Institute of Experimental Surgery, University of Szeged, Hungary
  • 4Department of Comparative Physiology, University of Szeged, Hungary

Aim: Our experiment was designed to investigate the effect of zerumbone pre-treatment on cholecystokinin-octapeptide-induced acute pancreatitis in rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats weighing 220–270g were used in this study. Animals were divided into 4 groups. Group ZP was treated with 20mg/kg zerumbone dissolved in 250µl DMSO ip. followed by three sc. injections of 100µg/kg cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) with 1 hour differences. Group P received an ip. injection of DMSO followed by pancreatitis induction. Group Z received 20mg/kg zerumbone followed by injections of physiological saline. Group C was treated with physiological saline instead of zerumbone and CCK-8. 4h after the last injection rats were exsanguinated through the abdominal aorta.

Results: The serum amylase and lipase activities and pancreatic weight/bodyweight ratio were significantly elevated in group P and ZP compared to group C, but compared to group P the elevation of these parameters was significantly smaller in group ZP. The elevation of pancreatic iNOS activity, IL-6 and TNF-alpha concentration was significantly reduced in group ZP versus group P. Pancreatic cNOS activity was reduced in group P but not in group ZP versus group C. Serum ASAT concentration was significantly higher in group Z and ZP versus group C. A beneficial effect of zerumbone on the histological parameters of pancreatitis was not observed.

Conclusion: The in vivo protective effect of zerumbone in the model of CCK-8-induced pancreatitis was demonstrated for the first time in this study. Zerumbone significantly reduced the changes of several parameters of the disease. The influence of the substance on the liver function needs further investigation.

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