GIT Disorders

GIT Disorders 

GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

INTRODUCTION:

The gastrointestinal tract consist of a hollow muscular tube starting from the oral cavity,where food enters the mouth,continuing through the pharynx,oesophagus,stomach and intestines to the rectum,where food is expelled.

INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS OF GASTRO INTESTINAL SYSTEM ARE:

1-Oral cavity.

2-oesophagus

3-Stomach

4-Small intestine including(duodenum,jejunum,illium)

5-Large intestine including(caecum,colon,rectum)

DISORDERS

-ESOPHAGUS:

*Oesophagitis-(oesophagia candidiasis)

*gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD

-STOMACH:

*Gastritis

*Peptic ulcer.

*Dyspepsia,Emesis,Gastric dumping syndrome.

INTESTINAL DISEASE:

Large intestine and small intestine

*Enterocolitis,Bowel obstruction.

*Constipation,Diarrhea.

PANCREAS

*Pancreatitis.

GALL BLADDER AND BILE DUCTS:

*Cholicystitis

*Gallstones

1-CONGENITAL CONDITIONS

Tracheoesophageal fistula:is a connection between the oesophagus and the trachea.In babies  with oesophageal atresia,the oesophagus comes to a dead end  instead of connecting to the stomach.It is a birth defect

2-NON-CONGENITAL CONDITIONS

Esophagitis (inflammation of oesophagus)can be caused by infections,certain medications,or( GERD).With GERD,the oesophageal sphincter does not work well and allows the acidic contents of the stomach to move backward up into the oesophagus.

>GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE(GERD)

It is a chronic symptom of mucousal damage caused by stomach acid coming up from stomach into the oesophagus.GERD is usually caused by changes in the barrier between stomach and the oesophagus ,including abnormal relaxation of lower oesophageal sphincter,which normally holds the top of the stomach closed,impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the oesophagus.

The most common symptoms of GERD are:

*Heart burn,Regurgitation,Trouble swallowing (dysphagia).

TREATMENT:

Medications,and possibly surgery. initial treatment is frequently with a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole.

>GASTROPARESIS

Gastroparesis,also called delayed gastric emptying is a medical condition consisting of a paresis(partial paralysis) of the stomach,resulting in food remaining in the stomach for a longer time than normal.the vagus nerve control these contractions.it may occur when the vagus nerve is damaged and the muscles of the stomach  and intestine donot work normally.

Sign and Symptoms:

*chronic nausea,chronic diarrhea,vomiting.

*others are palpitations,heartburn,abdominal pain,lack of appetite.

>CHOLECYSTITIS

Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder,which occurs most commonly due to obstruction of the cystic duct with gallstones.

>GALLSTONE

A gallstone is a crystalline concretion formed with in a gallbladder by accretion of the bile components.presence of gallstones in gallbladder is referred to as cholelithiasis.presence of gallstones in gallbladder may lead to acute cholecystitis

*On the basis of their composition ,gallstones can be divided into following types:Cholesterol stones,pigment stones and mixed stones.

Other common stomach or intestinal disorders:

*Gastrointestinal infections.

*Appendicitis(inflammation of appendix).

*Gastritis and peptic ulcers.

*Inflammatory bowel disease(inflammation of intestine).

*Celiac disease.

MEDICINAL PLANTS:

CUMINUM 

Synonyms:Cuminum odorum.

Common name:zeera.

Family:umbelliferae/apiaceae

Part used:seeds and essential oil

Habit and habitat: 

it is native from east Mediterranean to neighbouring country.Cumin is the dried seed of the herb cuminum cyminum,an annual herbaceous plant,resembles caraway seeds,oblong in shape,and yellow brown in color.

Constituents:major constituent includes carvone,carvacol,alpha-pinene,limonene,linalool,p-cymene,cineole.its main constituent aroma compounds are cuminaldehyde and cuminic alcohol,others are substituted pyrazine,2-ethoxy-3-isopropylpyrazine.other components include safranal,p-cymene and b-pinene also some minerals calcium phosphorus.

Uses:

*In medicine,cumin seeds have long been considered as stimulant and carminative,anticolic.

*They are stomachic,astringent and usefull in diarrhea and dyspepsia,in chronic ingestion.

*Benefits the digestive system and act as stimulant to the sexual organs.

*Used as antispasmodic,chest conditions and coughs

*Take a pinch of roasted and crushed fruit shortly before meal enhance epitite,if used after food,it helps in faster digestion.

*Effective in non specific colitis and in combination with other medicine to cure irritable bowel syndrome.

MOA:

It produce dose dependent anti ulcerogenic effect,also increases amylase,protease and lipase activity,causes antibacterial effect against H.pylori which is associated with gastrotitis.

Prunus domestica

Common name:

              Plum, alloo Bukhara

Family: 

              Rosaceae

Part used:

              Dried fruit

Habit:

         Plum is large shrub or small tree growing about 6 meters high. It is oblong in shape and brownish black or deep violet in color. It has both sweet mucilaginous and acidic taste.

Habitat:

        Plum is native to Europe, Japan and western Asia .And is cultivated in temperate areas worldwide for its fruit.

Constituents:

         It contains maleic acid, citric acid, sugar, pectin, amygdaline, prunasin , ash and mucilage.

Uses:

      1- Plum is used as laxative, stomachic. 

      2- It is used as excellent laxative for people with nervous bowel function.

       3- Also used in peptic ulcer disease.

       4- It is used as anti inflammatory in H.pylori infected gastric epithelial cells.

       5-    As a respiratory stimulant and can improve digestion.

       6-       They are used in baked goods and puddings.

 Aegle marmelos  

Common name:

            Apple wood, bael.

Family: .

            Rutaeceae 

Part used:

            Fruits, leaves, bark and fruit 

pulp.

Habit:

           It is a deciduous tree, 6 to 8 meters in height with trifoliate aromatic leaves. Its flowers are nearly 2 cm wide, borne in clusters, sweet scented and greenish white. The pulp is sweet and thick, a yellowish- orange to brown color.

Habitat: 

             It is found in India, Burma, and Sri Lanka.It grows wild all over the sub-Himalayan forests, central India and its west coast and in dry hilly places ascending to 4,000 ft. high.

Constituents:

            It contains alkaloids,steroids,coumarins,marmin,maemesin,marmelosin,B-sitosterol,reducing sugar, essential oils, ascorbic acid ,minerals .Also contain vitamins include calcium ,phosphorus and riboflavin.

Uses:

     1- The unripe or half-ripe fruit used as astringent, digestive and stomachic.

     2- It is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.

     3- It is also given for piles; and as a remedy for diarrhea.

     4- Fresh leaf juice used as a laxative and febrifuge is used in asthmatic complaints and jaundice. 

     5- Used as a cure and prevention for scurvy, strengthens stomach tissues.

       

Ferula foetida

Common name:

               Asafoetida,hinge

Family:

               Umbelliferae

Part used:

              Resinous exudate of the root.

Habit: 

            Ferula foetida is a perennial growing to 2 m (6ft) by 1.5 m (5ft). The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Habitat:

             Various species of genus Ferula grow wild from the Eastern Medi­terranean to Central Asia.  All these species are native to Central Asia (Iran to Afghanistan) and are mainly cultivated in India.

Constituents:

                It  contains about 40–64% resin, 25% endogenous gum, 10–17% volatile oil, and 1.5-10% ash , resinotannol ,glucose ,galactose, rhamnose ,ferulic acid , umbelliferone and monoterpenes i.e. .valeic acid and vanillin.

Uses:

It is used as a carminative, antispasmodic, laxative and expectorant.

         2- In the treatment of hysteria, some nervous conditions, bronchitis, asthma and whooping cough.

         3- It also thins the blood and lowers blood pressure.

         4- Also used as a antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, anti diabetic and cancer chemo preventive.

Moa:

        At multiple doses it enhances pancreatic lipase activity and stimulates pancreatic amylase and chemotropism.

Foeniculum vulgare

Common name:

                    Fennel

Family:

            Umbelliferae

Part used:

           Seeds, leaves and roots.

Habit:

           Plant is a perennial herb with yellow flowers. It grows to the height of 18 to 24 inches (45-60cm).Grow well in well drained, deep and moderately fertile soil.

Habitat:

          Plant is native to Southern Europe. Commercially comes from Romania, Bulgaria, Egypt or China. Fennel is largely cultivated in the south of France, Saxony, Galicia, and Russia, as well as in India and Persia.

Constituents:

        It contains not less than 2.0% of essential oil. The essential oil is constituted mainly by anethole (80%), 10%estragole, 7.5% fenchone. Other minor constituent are R-pinene, limonene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, and p-cymene. It also contains other nonvolatile constituents such as flavonoids and coumarins.

Uses:

 1-     It is used as a stimulant appetite and carminative.

 2-     As a digestive and help in flatulence and indigestion.

 3-     Used against infant colic’s.

 4-    Effectively reduce the intestinal spasm.

 5-     Also used in cough, mild expectorant and treating inflammation of mucous membrane.

Moa:

          It stimulates gastrointestinal motility and at high conc. it is as antispasmodic.