Z Gastroenterol 2007; 45 - P077
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-988223

Experimental evidence for an anti-inflammatory action of STW 5 in the lower gastrointestinal tract in vivo

H Abdel-Aziz 1, W Wadie 2, MT Khayyal 2, SN Okpanyi 3, O Kelber 3, D Weiser 3
  • 1Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Amman, Jordan
  • 2Depts. of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
  • 3Scientific Department, Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany

Introduction: STW 5 (Iberogast), a fixed combination of nine herbal components, was previously shown to be clinically effective in gastrointestinal disorders, as functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome. Following up on its potential of therapeutic usefulness, the present study was undertaken to explore in greater depth its anti-inflammatory activity and to throw some light on its mechanism of action.

Methods: In an experimental model for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), male rats were injected intra-colonically with trinitro benzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Four days later, the animals were sacrificed, and the lesions examined. The colon mass index was assessed, as well as tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) and reduced glutathione activity. Cytokines in both colonic tissue and blood were also measured. Drugs were given orally starting one week before TNBS administration and continued until sacrification.

Results: STW 5, in doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0ml/kg, dose dependently and significantly (p<0.05) reduced the area of lesions and colon mass index. The effect of 5.0ml/kg was comparable to that of sulfasalazine (300mg/kg), used as reference drug. STW 5 also prevented changes in MPO and reduced glutathione in a dose-dependent and statistically significant way. These effects were accompagnied by changes of cytokine levels.

Conclusion: The findings allow a correlation between the macroscopic manifestations of experimental IBD and the level of inflammatory mediators in both colon and blood. STW 5 (Iberogast) showed a marked protective effect against the development of lesions and against the induced changes in inflammatory mediators. These effects were quantitatively comparable to those of sulfasalazine even taking in account usual therapeutic doses. The effects point to a systemic effect of STW 5 and are of potential relevance not only in inflammatory bowel diseases, but also in functional gastrointestinal diseases, especially of post-inflammatory etiology.