A analysis staff at Toho College has revealed that ferulic acid (FA), a polyphenol ample in rice bran, suppresses intestinal easy muscle contractions by inhibiting voltage-dependent calcium channels. This discovering might open new avenues for dietary-based methods to handle intestinal motility problems corresponding to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel illness (IBD).
The analysis is printed within the Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. The staff was led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Ferulic acid is broadly identified for its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. It’s generally consumed as a element of complete grains, notably in rice bran. Earlier research have targeted on its systemic advantages, however its affect on gastrointestinal motility remained unclear.
In situations corresponding to IBS and IBD, sufferers typically endure from irregular intestinal actions—both extreme or lowered. The present examine explored whether or not FA may affect such contractions within the intestine.
The staff carried out experiments utilizing guinea pig ileal longitudinal easy muscle (ILSM) and noticed that FA considerably and reversibly inhibited contractions induced by numerous neurotransmitters corresponding to acetylcholine, histamine, prostaglandin F2α, and serotonin. These results have been discovered to be noncompetitive and concentration-dependent.
Additional investigations utilizing vascular easy muscle cell fashions revealed that FA additionally lowered intracellular calcium elevation brought on by potassium chloride, indicating its motion on voltage-dependent calcium channels.
This analysis means that FA may function a pure modulator of intestinal motility. It might assist alleviate diarrhea-predominant IBD by calming extreme easy muscle exercise. Nonetheless, in people with constipation-predominant IBS or wholesome individuals, FA would possibly exacerbate signs by overly suppressing motility.
The researchers additionally famous that the FA concentrations efficient in vitro have been increased than typical blood ranges achieved via weight loss program. Nonetheless, since intestinal concentrations could also be increased after oral consumption, additional research are warranted to evaluate physiological relevance and potential scientific purposes.
These findings present a foundation for additional analysis into the event of dietary interventions or dietary supplements concentrating on intestine motility utilizing ferulic acid. Medical trials can be important to substantiate whether or not these results could be replicated in people and to find out the suitable consumption ranges for therapeutic efficacy.
Extra info:
Keisuke Obara et al, Ferulic acid suppresses guinea pig ileal longitudinal easy muscle contractions by inhibiting voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, Journal of Pharmacological Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2025.05.012
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Compound present in rice bran can suppress intestinal contractions by inhibiting calcium inflow (2025, June 13)
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