Wine components inhibit cholera toxin-induced intestinal secretion in rats

Gut bacterial toxins contribute to many diseases, including diarrhea. Chole ra represents a Life-threatening form of enterotoxin-induced diarrhea cause d by infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Diarrhea results from th e prose cretory actions of a bacterial enterotoxin. The aim of this study w as to identify dietary compounds that antagonize the intestinal secretory a ctions of cholera toxin and which might be useful in diarrhea prevention an d treatment. Rat small intestine (jejunum) was ligated in vivo and separate segments of small bowel were randomly injected with various dietary compou nds in the presence and absence of cholera toxin. The secretory response to cholera toxin was assessed by measuring the amount of fluid secreted into the bowel segments. Compared to controls, red mine and wine components sign ificantly inhibited the small intestinal secretory response to cholera toxi n. Grape juice, ethanol (12%), and World Health Organization rehydration fl uid had lesser antisecretory effects. These novel results demonstrate that nonethanol components of wine possess antisecretory effects. These substanc es may be useful in treating gut enterotoxin-mediated diseases such as chol era.