Treatments with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (
NSAIDs) have increased the number of patients with gastrointestinal complications.
Qing Dai has been traditionally used in Chinese herbal medicine for various inflammatory diseases such as
ulcerative colitis. We previously reported that
Qing Dai suppressed
inflammations by scavenging
reactive oxygen species (ROS) in
ulcerative colitis patients. Thus,
Qing Dai can attenuate the production of ROS, which play an important role in
NSAID-induced gastrointestinal
injuries. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether
Qing Dai decreased mitochondrial ROS production in
NSAID-treated gastrointestinal cells by examining cellular injury, mitochondrial membrane potentials, and ROS production with specific fluorescent indicators. We also performed electron paramagnetic resonance measurement in isolated mitochondria with a spin-trapping
reagent (CYPMPO or DMPO). Treatments with
indomethacin and
aspirin induced cellular injury and mitochondrial impairment in the gastrointestinal cells. Under these conditions, mitochondrial alterations were observed on electron microscopy.
Qing Dai prevented these complications by suppressing ROS production in gastrointestinal cells. These results indicate that
Qing Dai attenuated the ROS production from the
NSAID-induced mitochondrial alteration in the gastrointestinal epithelial cells.
Qing Dai treatment may be considered effective for the prevention
NSAID-induced gastrointestinal injury.