The crypt-villus axis constitutes the functional unit of the small intestine, where mature absorptive cells are confined to the villi, and stem cells and transit amplifying and differentiating cells are restricted to the crypts. The polycomb group (PcG) proteins repress differentiation and promote self-renewal in embryonic stem cells. PcGs prevent transcriptional activity by catalysing epigenet...

Background: Understanding of the gut-liver axis is important for the up-to-date management of liver cirrhosis, and changes of intestinal functions form the core of this interesting research field. Summary: Most investigators noted small intestinal dysmotility in their patients with liver cirrhosis. Marked changes in the contraction pattern were observed in early manometric studies. The orocecal...

We present here an in vivo mouse model for intestinal stem cell function and differentiation that uses postnatal intestinal epithelial cell aggregates to generate a differentiated murine small intestinal mucosa with full crypt-villus architecture. The process of neomucosal formation is highly similar to that of intestinal regeneration. Both in vivo grafting and primary culture of these cells re...

Solanum paniculatum is popularly known as "jurubeba-verdadeira". In folk medicine, its roots, stems, and leaves are used as tonics, anti-inflammatories, carminatives, diuretics, and for gastrointestinal disorders. This species is listed in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia and belongs to the "Relação Nacional de Plantas Medicinais de Interesse ao SUS". Based on folk medicine data of the Solanum genus...

Background: Understanding of the gut-liver axis is important for the up-to-date management of liver cirrhosis, and changes of intestinal functions form the core of this interesting research field. Summary: Most investigators noted small intestinal dysmotility in their patients with liver cirrhosis. Marked changes in the contraction pattern were observed in early manometric studies. The orocecal...

Introduction: Artemisia dracunculus L. belongs to Asteraceae family, and is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine as a remedy for gastrointestinal disturbances. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of essential oil of A. dracunculus (EOAD) on the rat alimentary tract. Methods: The EOAD was extracted by Clevenger apparatus using hydrodistillation. LD50 was calcula...