Elucidating the mechanism of stigmasterol in acute pancreatitis treatment: insights from network pharmacology and in vitro/in vivo experiments
2024

Stigmasterol's Role in Treating Acute Pancreatitis

Sample size: 23 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Zhao Xuanlin, Li Fan, Wen Ao, Yu Xiuxian, Xu Xinrui, Wan Chengyu, Cao Yu, Xin Guang, Huang Wen

Primary Institution: West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Hypothesis

Stigmasterol might promote the transformation of pancreatic acinar cells from necrosis to apoptosis, providing therapeutic potential in acute pancreatitis.

Conclusion

Stigmasterol exhibits a significant protective effect against acute pancreatitis by enhancing acinar cell apoptosis through modulation of the ERK signaling pathways.

Supporting Evidence

  • Stigmasterol treatment significantly reduced serum levels of lipase and amylase in the STC-induced acute pancreatitis model.
  • Histological examination showed that stigmasterol mitigated pancreatic tissue injury.
  • Stigmasterol treatment increased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, indicating enhanced apoptosis in pancreatic acinar cells.

Takeaway

Stigmasterol, a natural compound, helps protect the pancreas from damage during inflammation by encouraging healthy cell death instead of harmful cell death.

Methodology

The study used network pharmacology combined with experimental verification in a sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis mouse model.

Limitations

The study primarily used a sodium taurocholate-induced model, which may not fully represent all types of acute pancreatitis seen in humans.

Participant Demographics

Male C57BL/6 mice, weighing 23–25 g and aged 6–8 weeks.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3389/fphar.2024.1485915

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