Emu Oil Combined with Lyprinol™ Reduces Small Intestinal Damage in a Rat Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Mucositis

ABSTRACT

Chemotherapy-induced mucositis is characterized by inflammation and ulcerating lesions lining the alimentary tract. Emu Oil and Lyprinol™ have independently demonstrated their therapeutic potential in intestinal inflammatory disorders, including mucositis. We investigated Emu Oil and Lyprinol™ in combination for their further potential to alleviate chemotherapy-induced mucositis in rats. Rats were gavaged with (1 ml) water, Olive Oil, Emu Oil + Olive Oil, Lyprinol™ + Olive Oil or Emu Oil + Lyprinol™ from Days 0 to 7, injected with saline (control) or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) on Day 5 and euthanized on Day 8. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (indicative of acute inflammation), histological severity scores, and intestinal architecture were quantified. Myeloperoxidase activity was significantly increased in the jejunum and ileum following 5-FU, compared to saline controls. Both Olive Oil and Emu Oil + Lyprinol™ significantly reduced jejunal MPO levels (1.8-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively), whereas only Emu Oil + Lyprinol™ significantly decreased ileal MPO levels, relative to 5-FU controls. All oil treatments decreased histological severity scores in the jejunum and ileum, and normalized crypt depth in the mid small intestine, relative to 5-FU controls. Emu Oil combined with Lyprinol™ partially reduced acute small intestinal inflammation. Isolating bioactive constituents of these naturally sourced oils could provide a more targeted strategy to protect against intestinal mucositis.

Acknowledgments

S.M. is the recipient of the National Health and Medical Research Council Postdoctoral (Peter Doherty) Australian Biomedical Fellowship. G.S.H. was supported by a South Australian Cancer Research Collaborative Senior Research Fellowship. S.M. contributed to the intellectual development of the Emu Oil project, experimental design, analysis and interpretation of data, and manuscript preparation. L.S.L. conducted animal trials, experiments, data analyses, and manuscript preparation. G.L.E., K.Y.C. assisted with experimental planning and analysis of data. K.A.L. contributed to the experimental planning, organizing, and conducting animal trials. J.E.B. assisted with animal trials. G.S.H. contributed to the experimental design, analysis of data, and manuscript preparation.