The herbal extract Iberogast® improves jejunal integrity in rats with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced mucositis

Abstract

There is an acute need for the development of effective therapies for mucositis, a debilitating

side effect of cancer chemotherapy. Iberogast® is a herbal extract reported to possess anti-

inflammatory properties. We investigated Iberogast® for its potential to reduce the severity

of 5-Fluorouracil (FU)-induced mucositis in rats. Rats were allocated to 3 treatment groups

(n=8) and gavaged daily with a 10% solution of Iberogast® or water from day-0 to day-8.

Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 5-FU (150mg/kg) or saline on day-6, and killed after

72hrs.  In vivo and in vitro sucrase activity was assessed by 13C-sucrose breath test (SBT) and

sucrase assay respectively. Intestinal disease severity was determined by histological

assessment of villus height and crypt depth. Significant increases in villus height (277±9µm)

and crypt depth (67±3µm) were observed in 5-FU+Iberogast®-treated rats compared with 5-

FU+Water (224±13µm and 48±2µm respectively; p