A Botanical-Based Equine Nutraceutical Reduces Gastric Smooth Muscle Contractile Force In Vitro.
Authors: Reed Lexie, MacNicol Jennifer L, Charchoglyan Armen, Brewer Dyanne, Murrant Coral, Pearson Wendy
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine gastric ulcer syndrome remains a significant welfare concern in performance horses, with gastric hypermotility implicated as a potential aetiological factor based on evidence from other species. Reed and colleagues investigated whether a botanical-based nutraceutical could modulate gastric smooth muscle contractility by exposing nonglandular gastric tissue explants from pigs to the nutraceutical extract in vitro, then stimulating contractions with acetylcholine across increasing doses. The nutraceutical significantly reduced both peak and mean contractile force over one and two-minute measurement windows compared to control tissue, suggesting a genuine pharmacological effect on smooth muscle function. Whilst these in vitro findings are mechanistically interesting and potentially support the use of such compounds to reduce excessive gastric motility—particularly relevant for mechanically-induced ulceration in performance horses—the authors appropriately highlight critical limitations: pig gastric tissue may not fully represent equine physiology, and in vivo efficacy in horses remains unestablished. Before recommending this nutraceutical as a gastric ulcer preventative, equine practitioners should await published in vivo studies confirming both efficacy and safety in horses, along with clarification of whether hypermotility reduction actually translates to reduced ulceration risk.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •This nutraceutical may help reduce gastric hypermotility in performance horses, a risk factor for gastric ulcers, though in vivo equine studies are still needed to confirm efficacy
- •Consider this as a potential adjunctive strategy for horses at high risk of gastric ulceration, pending further clinical validation
- •Results are preliminary and based on porcine tissue; direct equine studies are required before recommending for clinical use
Key Findings
- •Botanical-based nutraceutical significantly reduced contractile force of gastric smooth muscle in vitro
- •Peak and mean contractile force were reduced over 1 and 2 minutes following acetylcholine exposure
- •Study used porcine gastric tissue as model for equine gastric physiology
- •Results suggest potential protective effect against mechanically-induced gastric ulcers in horses