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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2014; 20(44): 16570-16581
Published online Nov 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i44.16570
Antioxidative phytoceuticals to ameliorate pancreatitis in animal models: An answer from nature
Jong-Min Park, Sooyeon Lee, Mi Kyung Chung, Sung-Hun Kwon, Eun-Hee Kim, Kwang Hyun Ko, Chang Il Kwon, Ki Baik Hahm
Jong-Min Park, Sooyeon Lee, Mi Kyung Chung, Sung-Hun Kwon, Eun-Hee Kim, Ki Baik Hahm, CHA Cancer Prevention Research Center, CHA University, Seoul 135-081, South Korea
Kwang Hyun Ko, Chang Il Kwon, Ki Baik Hahm, Digestive Disease Center, CHA University Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam 463-838, South Korea
Author contributions: Park JM and Lee S performed the majority of experiments; Chung MK, Kwon SH and Ko KH contributed new reagents or analytic tools for this work; Kim EH, Kwon CI and Hahm KB designed the study; Park JM and Hahm KB analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript.
Supported by The 2013 grant from the Korean Society of Ginseng funded by Korean Ginseng Cooperation
Correspondence to: Ki Baik Hahm, MD, PhD, Professor, CHA Cancer Prevention Research Center, CHA University, 605 Yeoksam 1-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-081, South Korea. hahmkb@cha.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-2-34682869 Fax: +82-2-34682868
Received: January 8, 2014
Revised: March 10, 2014
Accepted: May 12, 2014
Published online: November 28, 2014
Processing time: 327 Days and 23.4 Hours
Abstract

Despite enthusiastic efforts directed at elucidating critical underlying mechanisms towards the identification of novel therapeutic targets for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), the disease remains without a specific therapy to be executed within the first hours to days after onset of symptoms. Although earlier management for SAP should aim to either treat organ failure or reduce infectious complications, the current standard of care for the general management of AP in the first hours to days after onset of symptoms include intravenous fluid replacement, nutritional changes, and the use of analgesics with a close monitoring of vital signs. Furthermore, repeated evaluation of severity is very important, as the condition is particularly unstable in the early stages. In cases where biliary pancreatitis is accompanied by acute cholangitis or in cases where biliary stasis is suspected, an early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is recommended. However, practice guidelines regarding the treatment of pancreatitis are suboptimal. In chronic pancreatitis, conservative management strategies include lifestyle modifications and dietary changes followed by analgesics and pancreatic enzyme supplementation. Recently, attention has been focused on phytoceuticals or antioxidants as agents that could surpass the limitations associated with currently available therapies. Because oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, antioxidants alone or combined with conventional therapy may improve oxidative-stress-induced organ damage. Interest in phytoceuticals stems from their potential use as simple, accurate tools for pancreatitis prognostication that could replace older and more tedious methods. Therefore, the use of antioxidative nutrition or phytoceuticals may represent a new direction for clinical research in pancreatitis. In this review article, recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of pancreatitis are discussed and the paradigm shift underway to develop phytoceuticals and antioxidants to treat it is introduced. Despite the promise of studies evaluating the effects of antioxidants/phytoceuticals in pancreatitis, translation to the clinic has thus far been disappointing. However, it is expected that continued research will provide solid evidence to justify the use of antioxidative phytoceuticals in the treatment of pancreatitis.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Chronic pancreatitis; Severe acute pancreatitis; Antioxidants; Phytoceuticals

Core tip: In this review, the paradigm shift regarding the development of phytoceuticals and antioxidants is introduced following a comprehensive description of newer information pertaining to the pathogenesis of pancreatitis. Several animal models are discussed with regard to their role in efforts to develop efficient strategies against pancreatitis. Subsequently, newer therapeutic options with an emphasis on nutrients and phytoceuticals are reviewed. Further discussion also focuses on the promise of studies evaluating the effects of antioxidants/phytoceuticals in pancreatitis, the disappointing nature of translation of these agents to clinical settings, and the expected research advances that may support the use of antioxidative phytoceuticals in the treatment of pancreatitis.