The Study Of Licorzinc On The Treatment Of Acute Diarrhea

Acute diarrhea is a common clinical symptom, usually been characterized by rapid onset, watery or loose stool, up to10times daily defecation, and in combination with borborygmi, colic or tenesmus. In developing countries, combined with dehydration and malnutrition, acute diarrhea is the leading cause of death among children. Even in developed countries, acute diarrhea may develop to gastrointestinal emergency, resulting in deterioration of the disease. Therefore, in order to shorten the disease process and maintain the people’s health, it is necessary for us to adopt comprehensive measures to control diarrhea.Currently, the treatment of acute diarrhea on clinic mainly include rehydration therapy and symptomatic treatment, if necessary, combining with antibiotics, intestinal adsorbents and gut microflora regulating agents.In recent years, licorzinc had been gradually used in the clinical trial on the treatment of children with acute diarrhea, and achieved good effect. But its mechanism of action is not entirely clear. Licorzinc is a zinc-containing drug, combined by zinc and the active ingredients extracted from legumes licorice (Licorice) root. Lincorzinc is mainly used in the treatment of peptic ulcer, adolescent acne and nutritional supplement and so on. Studies have shown that oral zinc therapy can shorten the duration of acute diarrhea and reduce its severity, the main ingredient glycyrrhizin can enhance the defense capabilities of the gastrointestinal mucosa and accelerate ulcer healing, suggesting Licorzince has the pharmacological basis on the treatment of acute diarrhea.105mice were randomly divided into7groups:control group, model group, low-dose licorzinc group, middle-dose licorzinc group, high-dose licorzinc group, montmorillonite group, middle-dose licorzinc+montmorillonite group. The senna-induced acute diarrheamodel was prepared in mice once a day for three days. Comparing with the model group, each dose of licorzinc significantly reduced the rate of loose stools, the degree of diarrhea, the diarrhea index, and the percentage of weight loss in mice. Comparing with the montmorillonite group, middle-doselicorzinc+montmorillonite group significantly reduced the percentage of weight loss in mice. The pathological changes of mice intestine was observed using with HE staining. The control group showed normal villi, neat brush border, and columnar epithelial cells. While thinner villi, rough brush border, shorter epithelial cells and increased proportion of submucosal lymphocytes were found in the model group. Compared with the model group, the intestinal pathological changes were significantly improved in each treatment group. The levels of IL-8and IL-10in serum, intestinal fluid and intestinal tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results showed that the changes were parallel in serum, intestinal fluid and intestinal tissue. IL-8was significantly increased and IL-10levels was significantly decreased in the model group. Each dose of licorzinc could significantly reduce IL-8levels in serum, intestinal fluid and intestinal tissue, but had no significant effect on IL-10. Montmorillonite could significantly reduce IL-8levelsand elevate IL-10levels in serum, intestinal fluid and intestinal tissue. The expression of NF-κB was examined by both real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot assay. Results showed that NF-κB was significantly increased in both mRNA and protein level in the model group. Both licorzinc and montmorillonite could significantly reduce the mRNA and protein expression of NF-κBin the small intestinal mucosa. In summary, licorzinc has a therapeutic effect on the acute diarrhea induced by senna in mice, its action involves the suppression of inflammation and the protection of epithelial integrity in small intestine.