Hericium erinaceus, in combination with natural flavonoid/alkaloid and B3/B8 vitamins, can improve inflammatory burden in Inflammatory bowel diseases tissue: an ex vivo study

Abstract

Hericium erinaceus, berberine, and quercetin are effective in experimental colitis. It is unknown whether they can ameliorate inflammatory bowel diseases in humans. This ex vivo study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of a nutraceutical compound of HBQ-Complex^® (H. erinaceus, berberine, and quercetin), biotin, and niacin in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Tissue specimens were obtained either from Normal-Appearing Mucosa (NAM) or from Inflamed Mucosa (IM) in 20 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. mRNA and protein expression of COX-2, IL-10, and TNF-α were determined in NAM and IM biopsy samples (T0). IM samples were then incubated in HBQ-Complex^® (with the addition of niacin and biotin), and COX-2, IL-10, and TNF-α tissue levels were evaluated at 120 minutes (T1) and 180 minutes (T2). Incubation with this compound resulted in a progressive decrease in gene and protein COX-2 and TNF-α expression at T1/T2 in the IM. IL-10 showed an opposite trend, with a progressive increase of mRNA and protein expression over the same time window. HBQ-Complex^® (with the addition of niacin and biotin) decreased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines at the mRNA and protein levels in IBD tissue. On the contrary, mRNA and protein expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 showed a progressive increase.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease; Hericium erinaceus; berberin; biotin; inflammatory bowel disease; niacin; quercetin; ulcerative colitis.

Figure 1

Study protocol at its different times, namely T0 (baseline), T1 (after 120 minutes), and T2 (after 180 minutes). CD, Crohn’s Disease; UC, Ulcerative Colitis; ESS, Endoscopic SubScore; SES-CD, Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease; NAM, Normal Appearing Mucosa; IM, In-flamed Mucosa; PCR, Polymerase Chain Reaction; TNF-α, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; COX-2, Cyclooxygenase type 2; IL-10, Interleukin-10.

Figure 2

Differences in RT-PCR gene expression expressed as expression ratio for Cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in patients with Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) between normal mucosa (white circles) and inflamed mucosa (grey circles). Significant differences in gene expression between NAM (Nor-mal Appearing Mucosa) and IM (Inflamed Mucosa) are expressed with “*” equal to a p-value of at least less than 0.05. Data are shown as medians and interquartile ranges. non-significant (p > 0.05).

Figure 3

RT-PCR gene expression (above) expressed as expression ratio as well as representative Western Blot (below with control of α-Tubulin) for Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in patients with Crohn’s Disease (A) and Ulcerative Colitis (B). Data are shown for both Normal Appearing Mucosa (NAM) as well as Inflamed Mucosa (IM) both at baseline (T0) and after 120 minutes (T1) and 180 minutes (T2) of incubation with the compound under study. Significant differences in gene expression between times are expressed with “*” equal to a p-value of at least less than 0.05. Data are shown as medians and interquartile ranges.

Figure 4

RT-PCR gene expression (above) expressed as expression ratio as well as representative Western Blot (below with control of α-Tubulin) for Cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) in patients with Crohn’s Disease (A) and Ulcerative Colitis (B). Data are shown for both Normal Appearing Mucosa (NAM) as well as Inflamed Mucosa (IM) both at baseline (T0) and after 120 minutes (T1) and 180 minutes (T2) of incubation with the compound under study. Significant differences in gene expression between times are expressed with “*” equal to a p-value of at least less than 0.05. Data are shown as medians and interquartile ranges.

Figure 5

RT-PCR gene expression (above) expressed as expression ratio as well as representative Western Blot (below with control of α-Tubulin) for Interleukin-10 (IL-10) in patients with Crohn’s Disease (A) and Ulcerative Colitis (B). Data are shown for both Normal Appearing Mucosa (NAM) as well as Inflamed Mucosa (IM) both at baseline (T0) and after 120 minutes (T1) and 180 minutes (T2) of incubation with the compound under study. Significant differences in gene expression between times are expressed with “*” equal to a p-value of at least less than 0.05. Data are shown as medians and interquartile ranges. non-significant (p > 0.05).