Gastrointestinal tract enzymes

Synthesis. Histamine [51-45-6] 2-(4-imidazolyl)ethylarnine (1) is formed by decarboxylation of histidine by the enzyme L-histidine decarboxylase (Fig. 1). Most histamine is stored preformed in cytoplasmic granules of mast cells and basophils. In humans mast cells are found in the loose connective tissue of all organs, especially around blood and lymphatic vessels and nerves. These cells are most abundant in the organs expressing allergic diseases the skin, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. 

Bile Acid Sequestrants. The bile acid binding resins, colestipol [26658424] and cholestyramine, ate also effective in controlling semm cholesterol levels (150). Cholestyramine, a polymer having mol wt > ICf, is an anion-exchange resin. It is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, is not affected by digestive enzymes, and is taken orally after being suspended in water (151). 

For purposes of dosage, the specific activity of an enzyme is usually expressed as International Units (lU) rather than in terms of weight. However, unit measurements do not provide information on the absolute purity of a given product. Moreover, purity is not as critical an attribute for oral enzymes, as opposed to those adrninistered parenteraHy, inasmuch as the gastrointestinal tract is capable of disposing of most inert contaminants. 

Ingestible materials get into the mouth through hand-to-mouth contact, and through coughing when inhaled particulate material is removed from the lungs to the throat and then swallowed. Since there are acids, alkalies and enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract, the toxic nature of a compound may be enhanced or diminished. 

Drugs that are too highly hydrophilic are often absorbed rather poorly from the gastrointestinal tract. It is sometimes possible to circumvent this difficulty by preparing esters of such compounds so as to change their water lipid partition characteristics in order to enhance absorption. Once absorbed, the esters are cleaved by the numerous esterase enzymes in the bloodstream, releasing free drug. 

Figure 34-8. Formation of uric acid from purine nucleosides byway of the purine bases hypoxanthine, xanthine, and guanine. Purine deoxyribonucleosides are degraded by the same catabolic pathwayand enzymes,all of which existin the mucosa of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract.

Myo-inositol is one of the most biologically active forms of inositol. It exists in several isomeric forms, the most common being the constituent of phospholipids in biological cell membranes. It also occurs as free inositol and as inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) also known as phytate which is a major source from food. Rice bran is one of the richest sources of IP6 as well as free inositol. Inositol is considered to belong to the B-complex vitamins. It is released in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals by the dephosphorylation of IP6 (phytate) by the intestinal enzyme phytase. Phytase also releases intermediate products as inositol triphosphate and inositol pentaphosphate. Inositol triphosphate in cellular membrane functions as an important intra- and intercellular messenger, that merits its value as a nutritional therapy for cancer. 

The liver was the first organ in the gastrointestinal tract in which the role of ROMs in liver injury was established. Mitchell et al. (1973a, 1973b) demonstrated the roles of several drug-metabolizing enzymes in the formation of... 

Acute pancreatitis can progress to several distinct consequences. Pancreatic fluid collections and pancreatic abscesses can form during the course of acute pancreatitis. Pancreatic necrosis can occur when pancreatic enzymes damage the pancreatic tissue or when pancreatic abscesses become secondarily infected. This infection is usually due to bacteria that are normally found in the gastrointestinal tract, including Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, viridans group streptococci, and anaerobes. 

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