Reversal of visceral hypersensitivity in rat by Menthacarin® , a proprietary combination of essential oils from peppermint and caraway, coincides with mycobiome modulation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder associated with altered gastrointestinal microflora and increased nociception to colonic distension. This visceral hypersensitivity can be reversed in our rat maternal separation model by fungicides. Menthacarin® is a proprietary combination of essential oils from Mentha x piperita L. and Carum carvi. Because these oils exhibit antifungal and antibacterial properties, we investigated whether Menthacarin® can reverse existing visceral hypersensitivity in maternally separated rats.

METHODS:

In non-handled and maternally separated rats, we used the visceromotor responses to colorectal distension as measure for visceral sensitivity. We evaluated this response before and 24 hours after water-avoidance stress and after 7 days treatment with Menthacarin® or control. The pre- and post-treatment mycobiome and microbiome were characterized by sequencing of fungal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) and bacterial 16s rDNA regions. In vitro antifungal and antimicrobial properties of Menthacarin® were studied with radial diffusion assay.

KEY RESULTS:

Menthacarin® inhibited in vitro growth of yeast and bacteria. Water-avoidance caused visceral hypersensitivity in maternally separated rats, and this was reversed by treatment. Multivariate analyses of ITS-1 and 16S high throughput data showed that maternal separation, induced changes in the myco- and microbiome. Menthacarin® treatment of non-handled and maternally separated rats shifted the mycobiomes to more similar compositions.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES:

The development of visceral hypersensitivity in maternally separated rats and the Menthacarin® -mediated reversal of hypersensitivity is associated with changes in the mycobiome. Therefore, Menthacarin® may be a safe and effective treatment option that should be tested for IBS.

• Authors: S Botschuijver, O Welting, E Levin, D Maria-Ferreira, E Koch, R C Montijn, J Seppen, T B M Hakvoort, F H J Schuren, W J de Jonge, R M van den Wijngaard
• Journal: Neurogastroenterology and motility (Neurogastroenterol Motil) Vol. 30 Issue 6 Pg. e13299 (06 2018) ISSN: 1365-2982 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29383802 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2018 The Authors. Neurogastroenterology & Motility Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Antifungal Agents
• Drug Combinations
• Oils, Volatile
• Plant Oils
• peppermint oil
• caraway oil

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, isolation & purification)
• Antifungal Agents (administration & dosage, isolation & purification)
• Drug Combinations
• Hyperalgesia (drug therapy, microbiology, psychology)
• Male
• Maternal Deprivation
• Mentha piperita
• Mycobiome (drug effects, physiology)
• Oils, Volatile (administration & dosage, isolation & purification)
• Plant Oils (administration & dosage, isolation & purification)
• Rats
• Rats, Long-Evans
• Visceral Pain (drug therapy, microbiology, psychology)