Abstract
Results of the very first experiments conducted to evaluate therapeutic potentials of a fumarate containing Fumaria indica extract and of fairly low daily oral doses of monomethyl fumarate for prevention of chronic unavoidable foot-shock stress-induced gastric ulcers, and possible involvement of diverse neuro-hormonal and oxidative process in their stress response desensitizing effects are reported and discussed in this article. Preventive effects of 21 daily oral 60, 120, and 240 mg/kg doses of a standardized 50 % methanolic F. indica extract (MFI) and 1.25, 2.50, and 5.00 mg/kg/day of pure monomethyl fumarate (MMF) were compared in rats subjected to one hour daily unavoidable foot-shocks. A pharmaceutically well-standardized Withania somnifera (WS) root extract was used as a reference herbal anti-stress agent in all experiments. Effects of the treatments on stress-induced alterations in body weight, adrenal and spleen weights, gastric ulcer and ulcer index, weight of glandular stomach, protective mucosal glycoprotein content, cellular proliferation, oxidative stress on stomach fundus, and brain tissues of male rats were quantified. Other parameters quantified were plasma corticosterone levels, brain monoamine levels, and expressions of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-1β in blood and brain of stressed and treated rats. Most but not every observed stress-induced anomalies were suppressed or completely prevented by both MFI and pure MMF treatments in dose-dependent manner. Qualitatively, the observed activity profiles of both of them were similar to those of WS dose tested. These results reveal that both MFI and MMF are potent gastro-protective agents against chronic unavoidable stress-induced ulcers and strongly suggest that they act as regulators or modulators of monoamine, corticosterone, and cytokine homeostasis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aguirre A, Maturana CJ, Harcha PA, Sáez JC (2013) Possible involvement of TLRs and hemichannels in stress-induced CNS dysfunction via mastocytes, and glia activation. Mediators Inflamm. doi:10.1155/2013/893521
Ahmad A, Rasheed N, Banu N, Palit G (2010) Alterations in monoamine levels and oxidative systems in frontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus of the rat brain during chronic unpredictable stress. Stress 13:355–364
Ahmad A, Rasheed N, Gupta P (2012) Novel Ocimumoside A and B as anti-stress agents: modulation of brain monoamines and antioxidant systems in chronic unpredictable stress model in rats. Phytomedicine 19:639–647
Akira S, Takeda K (2004) Toll-like receptor signalling. Nat Rev Immunol 4:499–511
Akira S, Uematsu S, Takeuchi O (2006) Pathogen recognition and innate immunity. Cell 124:783–801
Arakawa H, Arakawa K, Blandino P Jr, Deak T (2011) The role of neuroinflammation in the release of aversive odor cues from footshock-stressed rats: implications for the neural mechanism of alarm pheromone. Psychoneuroendocrinology 36:557–568
Armando I, Lemoine AP, Segura ET, Barontini MB (1993) The stress-induced reduction in monoamine oxidase (MAO) an activity is reversed by benzodiazepines: role of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors. Cell Mol Neurobiol 13:593–600
Bhargava KP, Singh N (1981) Anti-stress activity of Ocimum sanctum Linn. Indian J Med Res 10:443–451
Bhattacharya SK, Muruganandam A (2003) Adaptogenic activity of Withania somnifera: an experimental study using a rat model of chronic stress. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 75:547–555
Blandino P Jr, Barnum CJ, Deak T (2006) The involvement of norepinephrine and microglia in hypothalamic and splenic IL-1beta responses to stress. J Neuroimmunol 173:87–95
Blandino P Jr, Barnum CJ, Solomon LG, Larish Y, Lankow BS, Deak T (2009) Gene expression changes in the hypothalamus provide evidence for regionally-selective changes in IL-1 and microglial markers after acute stress. Brain Behav Immun 23:958–968
Bornstein SR, Chrousos GP (1999) Clinical review 104: adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)- and non-ACTH-mediated regulation of the adrenal cortex: neural and immune inputs. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84:1729–1736
Bozard BR, Chothe PP, Tawfik A, Williams C, Fulzele S, Prasad PD, Martin PM, Ganapathy V, Smith SB (2012) Regulation of proton-coupled folate transporter in retinal Müller cells by the antipsoriatic drug monomethyl fumarate. Glia 60:333–342
Brzozowska I, Ptak-Belowska A, Pawlik M et al (2009) Mucosal strengthening activity of central and peripheral melatonin in the mechanism of gastric defense. J Physiol Pharmacol 7:47–56
Carson MJ, Doose JM, Melchior B, Schmid CD, Ploix CC (2006) CNS immune privilege: hiding in plain sight. Immunol Rev 213:48–65
Chaniotou Z, Giannogonas P, Theoharis S et al (2010) Corticotropin-releasing actor regulates TLR4 expression in the colon and protects mice from colitis. Gastroenterology 139:2083–2092
Chatterjee S, Srivastava S, Khalid A et al (2010) Comprehensive metabolic fingerprinting of Withania somnifera leaf and root extracts. Phytochemistry 71:1085–1094
Chia DW, Yoder TJ, Reiter WD, Gibson SI (2000) Fumaric acid: an overlooked form of fixed carbon in Arabidopsis and other plant species. Planta 211:743–751
Chrousos GP, Gold PW (1992) The concepts of stress and stress system disorders. Overview of physical and behavioral homeostasis. JAMA 267:1244–1252
Dandiya PC (2010) Psycopharmacology, herbal drugs; CINP and myself. In: Ban TA, Healy D, Shorter E (eds) Reflexions on twentieth-century psychopharmacology, 2nd edn. CINP, Scotland, pp 212–216
de Jong R, Bezemer AC, Zomerdijk TP, van de Pouw-Kraan T, Ottenhoff TH, Nibbering PH (1996) Selective stimulation of T helper 2 cytokine responses by the anti-psoriasis agent mono methyl fumarate. Eur J Immunol 26:2067–2074
Deak T, Bellamy C, D’Agostino LG (2003) Exposure to forced swim stress does not alter central production of IL-1. Brain Res 972:53–63
Deak T, Bordner KA, McElderry NK, Barnum CJ, Blandino P Jr, Deak MM, Tammariello SP (2005) Stress-induced increases in hypothalamic IL-1: a systematic comparison of multiple stressor paradigms. Brain Res Bull 64:541–556
Ellrichmann G, Petrasch-Parwez E, Lee DH, Reick C, Arning L, Saft C, Gold R, Linker RA (2011) Efficacy of fumaric acid esters in the R6/2 and YAC128 models of Huntington’s disease. PLoS One 6:e16172. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0016172
Frank MG, Thompson BM, Watkins LR, Maier SF (2012) Glucocorticoids mediate stress-induced priming of microglial pro-inflammatory responses. Brain Behav Immun 26:337–345
Gárate I, García-Bueno B, Madrigal JL, Caso JR, Alou L, Gómez-Lus ML, Leza JC (2014) Toll-like 4 receptor inhibitor TAK-242 decreases neuroinflammation in rat brain frontal cortex after stress. J Neuroinflammation 11:8. doi:10.1186/1742-2094-11-8
Gárate I, García-Bueno B, Madrigal JL, Bravo L, Berrocoso E, Caso JR, Micó JA, Leza JC (2011) Origin and consequences of brain Toll-like receptor 4 pathway stimulation in an experimental model of depression. J Neuroinflammation 8:151. doi:10.1186/1742-2094-8-151
Gárate I, Garcia-Bueno B, Madrigal JL, Caso JR, Alou L, Gomez-Lus ML, Micó JA, Leza JC (2013) Stress-induced neuroinflammation: role of the toll-like receptor-4 pathway. Biol Psychiatry 73:32–43
Goel RK, Gupta S, Shankar R, Sanyal AK (1986) Antiulcerogenic effect of Banana powder (Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca) and its effect on mucosal resistance. J Ethnopharmacol 18:33–44
Gold R, Linker RA, Stangel M (2012) Fumaric acid and its esters: an emerging treatment for multiple sclerosis with antioxidative mechanism of action. Clin Immunol 142:44–48
Hanke ML, Kielian T (2011) Toll-like receptors in health and disease in the brain: mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Clin Sci (Lond) 121:367–387
Herman JP, Cullinan WE (1997) Neurocircuitry of stress: central control of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Trends Neurosci 20:78–84
Jankord R, Herman JP (2008) Limbic regulation of hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenocortical function during acute and chronic stress. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1148:64–73
Jollow DJ, Mitchell JR, Zampaglione N, Gillette JR (1974) Bromobenzene-induced liver necrosis. Protective role of glutathione and evidence for 3,4-bromobenzene oxide as the hepatotoxic metabolite. Pharmacology 11:151–169
Kakkar P, Das B, Viswanathan PN (1984) A modified spectrophotometric assay of super oxide dismutase. Indian J Biochem Biophys 21:130–132
Kanczkowski W, Alexaki VI, Tran N et al (2013) Hypothalamo-pituitary and immune-dependent adrenal regulation during systemic inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 110:14801–14806
Kato A, Naitou H, Namioka M et al (2010) Proteomic identification of serum proteins associated with stress-induced gastric ulcers in fasted rats. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 74:812–818
Kizaki T, Izawa T, Sakurai T et al (2008) Beta2-adrenergic receptor regulates toll-like receptor-4-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation through beta-arrestin 2. Immunology 124:348–356
Kumar V, Dey A, Hadimani MB, Marcovic T, Emerald M (2015) Chemistry and pharmacology of Withania somnifera: an update. TANG (Humanitas Medicine) 5:1.1–1.13
Lehnardt S (2010) Innate immunity and neuroinflammation in the CNS: the role of microglia in Toll-like receptor-mediated neuronal injury. GLIA 58:253–263
Linker RA, Lee DH, Ryan S (2011) Fumaric acid esters exert neuroprotective effects in neuroinflammation via activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway. Brain 134:678–692
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin Phenol Reagent. J Biol Chem 193:269–275
Luck H (1963) Catalaze. In: Bergmeyer HU (ed) Methods of enzymatic analysis, 2nd edn. Academic Press, New York, pp 885–888
McManus JFA, Mowry RW (1964) PAS reaction staining. In: Staining methods, histological and histochemical, 1st edn. A Hoeber International Reprint. Harpoer& Row, New York, p 126
Montaseri S, Pourarian S, Montaseri H (2013) Effects of Fumaria extract on colic pain in 3-16 weeks infants. Iran J Neonatal 4:10–15
Morrow LE, McClellan JL, Conn CA, Kluger MJ (1993) Glucocorticoids alter fever and IL-6 responses to psychological stress and to lipopolysaccharide. Am J Physiol 264:R1010–R1016
Ohkawa H, Ohishi N, Yagi K (1979) Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Anal Biochem 95:351–358
Olson JK, Miller SD (2004) Microglia initiate central nervous system innate and adaptive immune responses through multiple TLRs. J Immunol 173:3916–3924
Piccinini AM, Midwood KS (2010) DAMPening inflammation by modulating TLR signalling. Mediators Inflamm. doi:10.1155/2010/672395
Pons A, Roca P, Aguiló C, Garcia FJ, Alemany M, Palou A (1981) A method for the simultaneous determination of total carbohydrate and glycerol in biological samples with theanthrone reagent. J Biochem Biophys Methods 4:227–231
Rao KS, Mishra SH (1998) Antihepatotoxic activity of monomethyl fumarate isolated from Fumaria indica. J Ethnopharmacol 60:207–213
Rasool M, Varalakshmi P (2006) Immunomodulatory role of Withania somnifera root powder on experimental induced inflammation: an in vivo and in vitro study. Vascul Pharmacol 44:406–410
Rivest S, Rivier C (1991) Influence of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in the alteration of neuroendocrine functions induced by intermittent footshock or interleukin. Endocrinology 129:2049–2057
Sawchenko PE, Swanson LW (1981) Central noradrenergic pathways for the integration of hypothalamic neuroendocrine and autonomic responses. Science 214:685–687
Sawchenko PE, Swanson LW (1982) The organization of noradrenergic pathways from the brain stem to the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei in the rat. Brain Res Rev 4:275–325
Selye H (1936) A syndrome produced by diverse nocuous agents. Nature 138:32–33
Shakya A, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2012) Holistic psychopharmacology of Fumaria indica (Fumitory). Chin Med 3:182–199
Shakya A, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2014a) A comparative pharmacological study with a Fumaria indica extract and monomethyl-fumarate. PharmaNutrition 2:92
Shakya A, Rai G, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2014b) Comparative evaluation of standardized methanolic extract of Fumaria indica and monomethyl fumarate on cold restraint stress induced ulcer in rats. Indian J Pharmacol 46:S79–S80
Shakya A, Singh GK, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2014c) Role of fumaric acid in anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of a Fumaria indica extracts. J Intercult Ethnopharmacol 3:173–178
Shakya A, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2015a) Role of fumarates in adaptogenics like efficacies of traditionally used Fumaria indica extracts. TANG (Humanitas Med) 5:6.1–6.10
Shakya A, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2015b) Efficacies of fumaric acid and its mono and di-methyl esters in rodent models for analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents. EC Pharmaceutical Sci 1:76–88
Singh GK, Kumar V (2010) Neuropharmacological screening and lack of antidepressant activity of standardized extract of Fumaria indica: a preclinical study. Electron J Pharmacol Ther 3:19–28
Singh B, Chandan BK, Sharma N, Singh S, Khajuria A, Gupta DK (2005) Adaptogenic activity of glyco-peptido-lipid fraction from the alcoholic extract of Trichopus zeylanicus Gaerten (part II). Phytomedicine 12:468–481
Singh GK, Rai G, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2012a) Anti-aggressive, brain neurotransmitters and receptor binding study of Fumaria indica in rodents. Curr Psychpharmacol 1:195–202
Singh GK, Rai G, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2012b) Beneficial effects of Fumaria indica on chronic stress-induced neurobehavioral and biochemical perturbations in rats. Chin Med 3:49–60
Singh GK, Chauhan SK, Rai G, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2013a) Potential antianxiety activity of Fumaria indica: a preclinical study. Pharmacogn Mag 9:14–22
Singh GK, Rai G, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2013b) Effects of ethanolic extract of Fumaria indica L. on rat cognitive dysfunctions. Ayu 34:421–429
Spijker S (2011) Dissection of rodent brain region. In: Li KW (ed) Neuroproteomics, Part II. Humama Press Inc, New York, pp 13–26
Staud R (2015) Cytokine and immune system abnormalities in fibromyalgia and other central sensitivity syndromes. Curr Rheumatol Rev 11:109–115
Thakur AK, Soni UK, Rai G, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2014a) Protective effects of Andrographis paniculata extract and pure andrographolide against chronic stress-triggered pathologies in rats. Cell Mol Neurobiol 34:1111–1121
Thakur AK, Shakya A, Husain GM, Emerald M, Kumar V (2014b) Gut-microbiota and mental health: current and future perspectives. J Pharmacol Clin Toxicol 2:1016.1–1016.15
Thakur AK, Dey A, Chatterjee SS, Kumar V (2015) Reverse Ayurvedic pharmacology of Ashwagandha as an adaptogenic anti-diabetic plant: a pilot study. Curr Tradit Med 1:51–61
Theoharides TC, Donelan J, Kandere-Grzybowska K, Konstantinidou A (2005) The role of mast cells in migraine pathophysiology. Brain Res Brain Res Rev 49:65–76
Tsan MF, Gao B (2004) Endogenous ligands of toll-like receptors. J Leukoc Biol 76:514–519
Welch AS, Welch BL (1969) Solvent extraction method for simultaneous determination of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in a single mouse brain. Anal Biochem 30:161–179
Winston D, Maimes S (2007) Adaptogens: herbs for strength, stamina, and stress relief. Healing Art Press, Vermont
Winters M (2006) Ancient medicine, modern use: Withania somnifera and its potential role in integrative oncology. Altern Med Rev 11:269–277
Woodward CJ, Emery PW (1987) Determination of plasma corticosterone using high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr 1419:280–284
Yunus MB (2008) Central sensitivity syndromes: a new paradigm and group nosology for fibromyalgia and overlapping conditions, and the related issue of disease versus illness. Semin Arthritis Rheum 37:339–352
Zacharowski K, Zacharowski PA, Koch A et al (2006) Toll-like receptor 4 plays a crucial role in the immune–adrenal response to systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:6392–6397
Zafir A, Banu N (2009) Modulation of in vivo oxidative status by exogenous corticosterone and restraint stress in rats. Stress 12:167–177
Zhang S, Xu Z, Gao Y, Wu Y, Li Z, Liu H, Zhang C (2012) Bidirectional crosstalk between stress-induced gastric ulcer and depression under chronic stress. PLoS One 7:e51148. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051148
Acknowledgments
Authors would like to acknowledge generous support of Indian Herbs Research and Supply Co. Ltd., Saharanpur, India for providing the analytical characterized Fumaria indica extract, and Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, India for providing complementary sample of standardized root extract of Withania somnifera along with its HPLC fingerprints. Anshul Shakya thankfully acknowledged the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India for providing the financial assistance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Additional information
Shyam Sunder Chatterjee is a retired Head of Pharmacology Research Laboratories, Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shakya, A., Soni, U.K., Rai, G. et al. Gastro-protective and Anti-stress Efficacies of Monomethyl Fumarate and a Fumaria indica Extract in Chronically Stressed Rats. Cell Mol Neurobiol 36, 621–635 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-015-0243-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-015-0243-1