164 Handbook of herbs and spices
Cytoprotective effects on gastric mucosa were shown by extracts of Bolivian
plants. The highest cytoprotective activity was exerted by the aqueous extract of
Phoradendron crassifolium, Franseria artemisioides, the hexane extract of Baccharis
rubricaulis and the dichloromethane extract of F. artemisioides. Other interesting
results were obtained with the extracts of B. genistelloides (Gonzales et al., 2000).
Mammea americana L. (Guttiferae) fruit, which is very common in the diet of the
northern South American population and used as a tonic and against stomach ache,
has been shown to possess excellent antisecretory and/or gastroprotective effect in all
gastric ulcer models in mice (Toma et al., 2005).
Other herbs and spices with protective and antimutagenic effects are cumin and
black pepper (Nalini et al., 1998), curcumin (Nagabhushan et al., 1987; Langmead
and Rampton, 2001; Sharma et al., 2005), diallylsulphide of garlic, (Ip et al., 1992),
ginger, which is used as a remedy for nausea and vomiting and liquorice and mastic,
which has long being recognized as an ulcer-healing agent. Turmeric (Curcuma
longa) has been found to protect DNA against lipid peroxide induced damage (Shalini
and Srinivas, 1987) and against fuel smoke condensate induced damage (Shalini and
Srinivas, 1990). Curcumin from turmeric was found to exhibit anti-inflammatory,
anti-oxidant and chemopreventive properties (Gao et al., 2004). Saffron (the dark red
stigmata of Crocus sativus L. flowers), which is used as a spice and food colorant,
and its main constituents, the carotenoids, possess tumoricidal and chemopreventive
properties against cancer in vitro and in vivo (Salomi et al., 1991a,b; Nair et al.,
1994; Tarantilis et al., 1994; Abdoullaev et al., 2000; Abdoullaev, 2002).
10.6.1 Experimental assays
Cytoprotective activity was determined by the method described by Robert et al.,
(1979) with rats through the ethanol-induced ulcer model. The number of erosions
per stomach was assessed according to the score method described by Marhuenda et
al., (1993) and Gonzales et al. (2000). Various different methods have been used to
demonstrate the tumoricidal and anticancer properties of saffron (Salomi et al., 1990;
Nair et al., 1991; Abdoullaev and Frenkel, 1992; el Daly, 1998).
10.6.2 Mechanisms of action – active compounds
Different mechanisms of action have been recorded for the effect of certain herbs and
substances on the gut immune system. It has been reported that cumin and black
pepper may protect the colon by decreasing the activity of b-glucuronidase and
mucinase that may liberate drugs and toxins that can be harmful to the coloncytes
(Nalini et al., 1998). Diallylsulphide (DAS), a major garlic component, has also been
shown to have anti-cancer effects (Ip et al., 1992). The anti-cancer properties of
curcumin are attributed to the inhibition of several cell signalling pathways at multiple
levels, to the effects on cellular enzymes such as cyclooxygenase and glutathione S-
transferases, to immuno-modulation and effects on angiogenesis and the cell’s ability
to affect gene transcription and to induce apoptosis in preclinical models (Sharma et
al., 2005). Others have shown that mitogen, interleucin-2 or alloantigen induced
proliferation of splenic lymphocytes and development of cytotoxic T lymphocytes is
significantly suppressed by curcumin (Gao et al., 2004).
Saffron contains three main pharmacologically active compounds: (i) saffron-
coloured compounds are crocins, which are unusual water-soluble carotenoids (mono