Investigation of STW 5 (Iberogast®) preventive effects in experimental sepsis

Figures & data

Table 1.  Treatment groups.

Groups	Laparotomy	CLP	STW 5 (mg/kg b.w.)	Indomethacin (10 mg/kg b.w.)
SOP	+	−	Ethanol 30%	−
CLP	−	+	Ethanol 30%	−
Treatment	−	+	2.5	−
Treatment	−	+	5	−
Treatment	−	+	10	−
Positive control	−	+	−	+

Figure 1.  Histopathological studies. Light microscopy showing histologic sections of the liver of rats from different groups. (A) Section of liver from a rat receiving laparotomy plus ethanol 30% as vehicle (sham-operated, SOP group), (B) Section of liver from a rat receiving CLP plus ethanol 30% as vehicle (CLP group), (C) Section of liver from a rat receiving CLP + 2.5 mg/kg b.w. of STW 5, (D) Section of liver from a rat receiving CLP + 5 mg/kg b.w. of STW 5 and (E) Section of liver from a rat receiving CLP + 10 mg/kg b.w. of STW 5. Arrows indicate the infiltration or sequestration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (original magnification ×400).

Figure 2.  Histopathological studies. Light microscopy showing histologic sections of lung of rats from different groups. (A) Section of lung from a rat receiving laparotomy plus ethanol 30% as vehicle (sham-operated, SOP group), (B) Section of lung from a rat receiving CLP plus ethanol 30% as vehicle (CLP group), (C) Section of lung from a rat receiving CLP + 2.5 mg/kg b.w. of STW 5, (D) Section of lung from a rat receiving CLP + 5 mg/kg b.w. of STW 5 and (E) Section of lung from a rat receiving CLP + 10 mg/kg b.w. of STW 5. Arrows indicate the infiltration or sequestration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (original magnification ×400).

Table 2.  Effect of STW 5 on polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration/sequestration and histologic index of the severity of tissue injury in livers of CLP-induced septic shock in rats.

Groups	Number of infiltrated and/or sequestrated neutrophils (PMN)	Histologic index of the severity of liver injury	Liver histopathological changes	Pathology grade
Laparotomy	1.26 ± 0.29	0.41 ± 0.1	Mild congestion and granular degeneration of hepatocyte with slight infiltration and sequestration of PMN in some areas	+
CLP	4.7 ± 0.63*	1.5 ± 0.28*	Severe pathologic changes such as severe congestion, interstitial edema and infiltration and sequestration of PMN, mild granular degeneration of hepatocytes	+++
CLP + STW 5 (2.5 mg/kg b.w.)	3.5 ± 0.63	1.3 ± 0.33	Severe pathologic changes such as severe congestion, interstitial edema and infiltration and sequestration of PMN, mild granular degeneration of hepatocytes	+++
CLP + STW 5(5 mg/kg b.w.)	5.2 ± 0.74	2 ± 0.57	Severe pathologic changes such as severe congestion, interstitial edema and infiltration and sequestration of PMN, mild granular degeneration of hepatocytes	+++
CLP + STW 5(10 mg/kg b.w.)	5.8 ± 0.67	2.3 ± 0.33	Severe pathologic changes such as severe congestion, interstitial edema and infiltration and sequestration of PMN, mild granular degeneration of hepatocytes	+++
CLP + Ind (10 mg/kg b.w.)	2.6 ± 0.5**	0.75 ± 0.2**	Mild pathologic changes such as mild congestion, interstitial edema and infiltration and sequestration of PMN	+

In the sham-operated group (SOP), rats underwent laparotomy and received ethanol 30% as vehicle. In the CLP group, animals received vehicle alone; CLP + STW 5 groups, STW 5 (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) were injected (i.p.) immediately after CLP and CLP rats were treated with indomethacin 10 mg/kg b.w. as a positive control. Values are mean ± S.E.M. carried out in duplicate. *p < 0.05 is considered significantly different from the laparatomy group within each parameter. **p < 0.05 is considered significantly different from CLP group within each parameter.

Table 3.  Effect of STW5 on polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration/sequestration and histologic index of the severity of tissue injury in lungs of CLP-induced septic shock in rats.

Groups	Number of infiltrated and/or sequestrated neutrophils (PMN)	Histologic index of the severity of lung injury	Lung histopathological changes	Pathology grade
Laparotomy	3.2 ± 0.7	0.41 ± 0.1	Mild pathologic changes such as mild congestion and interstitial edema with slight infiltration and aggregation of PMN in some areas	+
CLP	11.8 ± 2.6*	1.5 ± 0.5*	Severe pathologic changes such as severe pathologic changes such as severe congestion, interstitial edema, interalveolar wall thickness, infiltration and aggregation of PMN, focal hemorrhages and hyaline thrombi	+++
CLP + STW 5 (2.5 mg/kg b.w.)	8.8 ± 1.6	1.3 ± 0.3	Severe pathologic changes such as severe congestion, interstitial edema, interalveolar wall thickness, infiltration and aggregation of PMN, focal hemorrhages and hyaline thrombi	+++
CLP + STW 5 (5 mg/kg b.w.)	13.1 ± 1.8	2 ± 0.57	Severe pathologic changes such as severe congestion, interstitial edema, interalveolar wall thickness, infiltration and aggregation of PMN, focal hemorrhages and hyaline thrombi	+++
CLP + STW5 (10 mg/kg b.w.)	14.6 ± 1.7	2.3 ± 0.3	Severe pathologic changes such as severe congestion, interstitial edema, interalveolar wall thickness, infiltration and aggregation of PMN, focal hemorrhages and hyaline thrombi	+++
CLP + Ind (10 mg/kg b.w.)	6.5 ± 1.4**	0.75 ± 0.2**	Mild pathologic changes such as mild congestion, interstitial edema and infiltration and aggregation of PMN	+

In the sham-operated group (SOP), rats underwent laparotomy and received ethanol 30% as vehicle. In the CLP group, animals received vehicle alone; CLP + STW 5 groups, STW 5 (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) were injected (i.p.) immediately after CLP and CLP rats were treated with indomethacin 10 mg/kg b.w. as a positive control. Values are mean ± SEM carried out in duplicate. *p < 0.05 is considered significantly different from the laparatomy group within each parameter. **p < 0.05 is considered significantly different from the CLP group within each parameter.