Ginsenoside Rd (GRd) is a biologically active component of ginseng that stimulates the proliferation of endogenous stem cells. The objective of our research was to evaluate the utility of GRd in gastrointestinal mucosal regeneration in a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to clarify whether GRd exerts its pharmacological effects by modulating endogenous intestinal stem cells. The IBD rat model was established via subcutaneous injection of indomethacin, and 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg GRd or an equal volume of physiological saline was then administered orally to rats in different groups every day for seven consecutive days. We observed that GRd treatment, especially 20 mg/kg GRd, significantly reduced indomethacin-induced damage compared with that in the control group. By measuring the mRNA and protein levels of the intestinal stem cell markers Bmi and Msi-1 and the intestinal epithelial cell marker CDX-2 as well as by double-labelling these markers with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU), we inferred that GRd could stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of endogenous intestinal stem cells in IBD model rats, leading to improved recovery of intestinal function.

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This study was designed to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of cirsilineol in hydrochloric acid (HCl)/ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Cirsilineol was administered at the doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg in HCl/ethanol-induced rats. The gastroprotective ability was verified by determining the ulcer score, total acidity, hemoglobin, inflammatory cytokines, lipid peroxides, and enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in gastric tissue and serum biochemical analysis. The results showed a favorable increase in the hemoglobin level, antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), restored electrochemical balance (carbon dioxide & anion gap) while a noticeable decrease in ulcer index, total acidity, lipid peroxides, inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 beta [IL-1β], IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) in rats treated with the cirsilineol. The serum biochemical analysis on liver markers (alkaline phosphatases, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase), kidney markers (urea, creatinine, albumin, globulin, total protein), and lipid profile (triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol) were attenuated by cirsilineol treatment in rats. Histopathology showed enhanced gastric protection and preserved the integrity of gastric mucosa upon cirsilineol administration. These results ultimately suggest that cirsilineol has gastroprotective effects that prevent the development of gastric ulcer.