STW 5 (Iberogast®), a phytomedicine used in functional gastrointestinal diseases, has been shown to significantly alleviate symptoms of functional dyspepsia in several randomized controlled double blind studies [1], having a significant impact also on heartburn as a symptom [2]. Therefore the effect in esophagitis, which can be involved in the etiology of this symptom, was studied in a pharmacological model in vivo.
STW 5, as a lyophilisate dissolved in water, was administered orally to male Wistar rats fasted for 18h. 1h later, animals were anesthesised and a ligation was formed between forestomach and corpus as well as between stomach and pylorus for induction of an inflammation of the esophageal mucosa. 4h later, rats were sacrified and the inflamed area of the esophagus was measured.
The gastric ligations led to a marked esophagitis, measurable as inflamed area of the esophageal mucosa. STW 5 (200mg/kg b.w.) led to a significant reduction of the inflamed area to 30% of inflamed controls.
The results indicate that the beneficial effect of STW 5 (Iberogast®) in heartburn as a symptom of functional dyspepsia could in part result from an anti-inflammatory effect on the mucosa of the esophagus.
References: [1] Gundermann, K.J. et al. (2004) MMW-Fortschr. Med. 146: 33/34. [2] Kelber, O. et al. (2006), Short Lecture, DPhG Annual Joint Meeting, Marburg, Germany
