<i>Ixeris dentata</i> and <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i> Extracts Improve Salivary Secretion Capability in Diabetes-Associated Dry Mouth Rat Model

• Main Authors: Hwa-Young Lee, Mingkun Gu, Jinhua Cheng, Joo-Won Suh, Han-Jung Chae
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: <i>Ixeris dentate</i>; <i>lactobacillus</i>; salivation; xerostomia
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1331

Dry mouth, hyposalivation, or xerostomia is a significant problem in diabetic patients; however, there has been no way to relieve these symptoms. This study’s aim was to evaluate the effects of <i>Ixeris dentata</i> (IXD) in combination with lactobacillus extract on the salivation rate in diabetes-induced dry mouth, and its mechanism was also investigated. In the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model, the dry mouth condition was established as a model. Here, rats were treated with water or IXD through the sublingual spray, and subsequently treated with or without a spray of lactobacillus extract. In diabetes condition, the salivary flow rate, amylase activity, and aquaporin-5 and Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger (NHE-1) expressions were markedly decreased, whereas they were more significantly recovered in the sequential treatment of IXD-lactobacillus extract than in each single treatment. Furthermore, oxidative stress and its related ER stress response were especially regulated in the IXD/lactobacillus extract condition, where the following anti-oxidative enzymes, glutathione assay (GSH: GSSG) ratio, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were involved. This study suggests that the combination of IXD and lactobacillus would be a potential alternative medicine against diabetes-induced hyposalivation and xerostomia.