In vitro assays to test the beneficial effect of plant food supplements in the gastro-intestinal tract: experimental results from umil

In the task Work Package 2, evidence for PFS benefit from epidemiological, clinical, and intervention have been reviewed. A number of pathological conditions, where PFS are commonly used, were identified and inflammation was one of those. Two systematic reviews aimed to summarize and critically evaluate the evidence for or against the efficacy of PFS or substances (compounds or foods) relevant to PFS for coping inflammatory conditions were published. The outcome of the evaluation process indicated for the need of other studies in particular for Matricaria recutita L., Vitis vinifera L., and Calendula officinalis L. While the potential benefits of green tea have been reported in a wide range of health areas, and in particular metabolic syndrome, the consumption of green tea (Camellia sinensis Kuntze) did not affect significantly inflammation conditions; however, the effect at gastric level was not considered in deep. The in vitro assays to test the beneficial effect of botanicals in the gastro-intestinal tract have been developed and applied to the extracts from plants above described. The assays were set up in human gastric epithelial cells in order to study the beneficial effects on cytokine release (IL-8, IL-6, TNF) and NF-B pathway (transcription and nuclear translocation) during gastric inflammation; the same assays were set up in human intestinal cell line CaCo-2, both undifferentiated (colonocytes) and differentiated to enterocytes Our results on green and black tea extracts indicate an effect on the NF-B driven transcription induced by cytokines deeply involved in gastric inflammation; this effect was correlated to the catechin content. Vitis vinifera L. water extract inhibited NF-B pathway and IL-8 release in gastric and intestinal cell lines; this extract should be considered promising for future studies. Results on Matricaria recutita L. water extract seem to exclude an anti- inflammatory effect in the gut, whereas the effect of Calendula officinalis L. extract is currently under investigation.