• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.21-28
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• 2020

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate the improvement effect of Sprout of Coix lacryma-jobi var. mayuen Stapf water extract (SC) on the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis mice. Methods : The antioxidant activity of SC was measured through total polyphenol and total flavonoid content in vitro. The experiment was conducted with seven-week-old male Balb/c mice. After 1 week adaptation, acute colitis was induced by oral administration of 5% DSS dissolved in drinking water, for 7 days. And normal mice received drinking water without DSS throughout the entire experimental period. For each experiment, the mice were divided into 4 groups and 24 colitis mice were arbitrarily allocated into 3 groups (n = 8/group); Normal group, Control group, SC 100 mg/kg treated group (SCL), SC 200 mg/kg treated group (SCH). Serum and colon tissues were collected after one weeks of drug administration. Results : ROS levels, ONOO^- levels, AST, and ALT in serum were decreased in SC treated groups compared to the control group. Western blotting measurements of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, catalase, GPx-1/2, IL-4, IL-10, and Bcl2 showed that the SC treated groups was increased compared to the Control group. Also, western blot measurements of NF-κBp65, p-IκBα, COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, Bax, and Caspase-3 showed that the SC treated groups was reduced compared to the Control group. Conclusion : Taken together, these results suggest that SC treatment can attenuate the DSS-induced colitis though inhibiting NF-κB pathway and enhancing Nrf2 pathway. Therefore, SC was the potential to be used as a natural therapeutic drug.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2018

Paeoniae Radix has been used as a traditional medicine for various diseases including hepatic disease. However, the inhibitory effect of Paeoniae Radix on intestinal inflammation has not been fully understood yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Paeoniae Radix on colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium in mice. To investigate the protective effects of Paeoniae Radix, the colitis mice were induced by drinking water containing 5% dextran sulfate sodium for 7 days. Mice were randomized into groups receiving Paeoniae Radix (100 mg/kg), sulfasalazine (150 mg/kg) as a positive control, or water as a negative control. We evaluated the effects of Paeoniae Radix on clinical signs induced by dextran sulfate sodium, measuring weight loss, colon length, and disease activity index. Additionally, to find a possible explanation for the anti-inflammatory effects of Paeoniae Radix, we evaluated the effects of Paeoniae Radix on the interleukin-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 levels in colitis tissue. The results indicated that mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium showed measurable clinical signs, including weight loss and reduced colon length. However, Paeoniae Radix treatment significantly improved the weight loss and disease activity index as clinical symptoms. Moreover, Paeoniae Radix inhibited the interleukin-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 expression levels in colon tissues treated with dextran sulfate sodium. Taken together, the findings of this study suggest that Paeoniae Radix may be useful for treating intestinal inflammation, including ulcerative colitis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1132-1141
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• 2020

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an increasing global burden and a predisposing factor to colorectal cancer. Although a number of treatment options are available, the side effects could be considerable. Studies on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as an IBD intervention protocol require further validation as the underlying mechanisms for its attenuating effects remain unclear. This study aims to demonstrate the ameliorative role of FMT in an ulcerative colitis (UC) model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and elucidate its relative mechanisms in a mouse model. It was shown that FMT intervention decreased disease activity index (DAI) levels and increased the body weight, colon weight and colon length of experimental animals. It also alleviated histopathological changes, reduced key cytokine expression and oxidative status in the colon. A down-regulated expression level of genes associated with NF-κB signaling pathway was also observed. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that FMT intervention restored the gut microbiota to the pattern of the control group by increasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes and decreasing the abundances of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. The relative abundances of the genera Lactobacillus, Butyricicoccus, Lachnoclostridium, Olsenella and Odoribacter were upregulated but Helicobacter, Bacteroides and Clostridium were reduced after FMT administration. Furthermore, FMT administration elevated the concentrations of SCFAs in the colon. In conclusion, FMT intervention could be suitable for UC control, but further validations via clinical trials are recommended.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1800-1805
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• 2018

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) constitute barrier surfaces and play a critical role in maintaining gut health. Dysregulated immune responses and destruction of IECs disrupt intestinal balance. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is the most widely used chemical for inducing colitis in animals, and its treatment induces colonic inflammation, acute diarrhea, and shortening of the intestine, with clinical and histological similarity to human UC. Current treatments for this inflammatory disorder have poor tolerability and insufficient therapeutic efficacy, and thus, alternative therapeutic approaches are required. Recently, dietary supplements with probiotics have emerged as promising interventions by alleviating disturbances in the indigenous microflora in UC. Thus, we hypothesized that the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BB12 could protect against the development of colitis in a DSS-induced mouse model of UC. In the present study, oral administration of BB12 markedly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis, accompanied by reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$-mediated IEC apoptosis. These findings indicate that the probiotic strain BB12 can alleviate DSS-induced colitis and suggest a novel mechanism of communication between probiotic microorganisms and intestinal epithelia, which increases intestinal cell survival by modulating pro-apoptotic cytokine expression.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2235-2245
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• 2016

Ulcerative colitis (UC) results from colonic epithelial barrier defects and impaired mucosal immune responses. In this study, we aimed to investigate the modifying effects of a Spirogyra neglecta extract (SNE), a polysaccharide extract (PE) and a chloroform fraction (CF) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and to determine the mechanisms. To induce colitis, ICR mice received 3% DSS in their drinking water for 7 days. Seven days preceding the DSS treatment, oral administration of SNE, PE and CF at doses of 50, 25 and 0.25 mg/kg body weight (low dose), 200, 100 and 1 mg/kg body weight (high dose) and vehicle was started and continued for 14 days. Histologic findings showed that DSS-induced damage of colonic epithelial structure and inflammation was attenuated in mice pre-treated with SNE, PE and CF. Furthermore, SNE and PE significantly protected colonic epithelial cells from DSS-induced cell cycle arrest, while SNE, PE and CF significantly diminished apoptosis. Proteome analysis demonstrated that SNE and PE might ameliorate DSS-induced colitis by inducing antioxidant enzymes, restoring impaired mitochondria function, and regulating inflammatory cytokines, proliferation and apoptosis. These results suggest that SNE and PE could prevent DSS-induced colitis in ICR mice by protection against and/or aiding recovery from damage to the colonic epithelium, reducing ROS and maintaining normal mitochondrial function and apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.437-446
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• 2012

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by recurrent episodes of colonic inflammation and tissue degeneration in human or animal models. The contractile force generated by the smooth muscle is significantly attenuated, resulting in altered motility leading to diarrhea or constipation in IBD. The aim of this study is to clarify the altered contractility of circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers in proximal colon of trinitrobenzen sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis mouse. Colitis was induced by direct injection of TNBS (120 mg/kg, 50% ethanol) in proximal colon of ICR mouse using a 30 G needle anesthetized with ketamin (50 mg/kg), whereas animals in the control group were injected of 50% ethanol alone. In TNBS-induced colitis, the wall of the proximal colon is diffusely thickened with loss of haustration, and showed mucosal and mucular edema with inflammatory infiltration. The colonic inflammation is significantly induced the reduction of colonic contractile activity including spontaneous contractile activity, depolarization-induced contractility, and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated contractile response in circular muscle layer compared to the longitudinal muscle layer. The inward rectification of currents, especially, important to $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ influx-induced depolarization and contraction, was markedly reduced in the TNBS-induced colitis compared to the control. The muscarinic acetylcholine-mediated contractile responses were significantly attenuated in the circular and longitudinal smooth muscle strips induced by the reduction of membrane expression of canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channel isoforms from the proximal colon of the TNBS-induced colitis mouse than the control.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.227-236
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• 2014

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a serious gastrointestinal tract disease characterized by recurrent chronic inflammation and mucosal damage of the gastrointestinal tract. The conventional therapies of choice are anti-inflammatory agents, steroids and anti-TNF-${\alpha}$ therapy. However, inherent limitations in these therapies have steered many UC patients to supplement existing therapies with alternative medicinal products. In the current study, we tested the efficacy of Gingko bilola extract (EGb 761) in abating colonic inflammation in a DSS-induced murine model of colitis. C57BL/6 mice were administered 2% DSS in the drinking water for 7 days, then regular water for 7 days, and then 2% DSS for an additional 7 days. EGb 761 (1 mg/dose) was oral gavaged daily for the duration of the experiment. At the termination of the experiment, mice treated with EGb+DSS showed higher body weight, lower spleen weight and longer colon length compared to mice treated with DSS alone. HE-stained colon tissues also exhibited less histologic inflammation in mice treated with EGb+DSS mice compared to mice treated with DSS alone. The serum levels inflammatory cytokines, KC and TNF-${\alpha}$, were also decreased in mice treated with EGb+DSS compared to mice treated with DSS alone. Finally, addition of EGb 761 to TNF-${\alpha}$ treated colonic cell line (HT29/c1) decreased secretion of IL-8 in vitro. These results collectively suggest that EGb 761 abates induction of colitis in DSS-induced model of colitis in mice.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2024

Objectives : Ulcerative colitis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. However, there are some drawbacks to long-term drug therapy such as the risk of opportunistic infections. Recently, there was an increasing interest on the use of khorasan Kamut wheat because of their higher value of selenium and fiber than modern wheat. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of Kamut brand wheat enzyme (Kamut WE) diet on colon health in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. Methods : Female C57BL/6J mice were divided into 6 groups. (1) normal (Water and AIN-93G diet), (2) control (1.25% DSS and AIN-93G diet), (3) Kamut WE (1.25% DSS and Kamut WE diet), (4) normal (Water and AIN-93G diet), (5) control (2.50% DSS and AIN-93G diet), (6) Kamut WE (2.50% DSS and Kamut WE diet). Dietary intake, body weight change, disease activity index (DAI), colon length and spleen weight were monitored. Results : Kamut WE group alleviated colitis symptom, including dietary intake loss, DAI (weight loss, loose stools, bleeding), colon length shortening and spleen swelling. Further, Kamut WE diets showed a significant effect against pathological damage by the increased colon length, decreased DAI and spleen weight in DSS 1.25% as well as DSS 2.50%. Conclusions : Our study provides evidence that Kamut WE diet increased colon length, decreased DAI and spleen weight in intestinal inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2014

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of raw (P) and roasted (RP) Perilla frutescens Britton (perilla) seeds in RAW 264.7 macrophages and an ulcerative colitis mouse model. In lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells, treatment with ethanol extract of P at the concentrations of 75 and $150{\mu}g/mL$ decreased nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) levels to 48-85% of the control (p<0.01). Treatment with RP extract exhibited similar effects on NO, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$, decreasing those levels to 51-84% of the control (p<0.01). In dextran sulfate sodium-treated ulcerative colitis mice, dietary treatment with 1% RP for 7 days decreased the colonic levels of prostaglandin $E_2$ and leukotriene $B_4$ to 34% and 58% of the control, respectively (p<0.05). Dietary P treatment, however, did not decrease those levels significantly. These results indicate that roasted perilla seed exerts anti-inflammatory activity both in vitro and in vivo.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.205-214
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• 2005

Background: We examined global gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with ulcerative colitis (DC), and tested whether the identified genes with the altered expression might be associated with susceptibility to UC. Methods: PBMCs from 8 UC and 8 normal healthy (NH) volunteers were collected, and total RNAs were subjected to the human 8.0K cDNA chip for the micro array analysis. Real time-PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to verify the results of micro array. One hundred forty UC patients and 300 NH controls were recruited for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. Results: Twenty-five immune function-related genes with over 2-fold expression were identified. Of these genes, two chemokines, namely, CXCL1 and CCL20, were selected because of their potential importance in the evocation of host innate and adaptive immunity. Four SNPs were identified in the promoter and coding regions of CXCL1, while there was no significant difference between all patients with UC and controls in their polymorphisms, except minor association at g.57A>G (rs2071425, p=0.02). On the other hand, among three novel and one known SNPs identified in the promoter region of CCL20, g. -1,706 G>A (p=0.000000055), g. -1,458 G>A (p=0.0048), and g. -962C>A (p=0.0006) were found to be significantly associated with the susceptibility of Uc. Conclusion: Altered gene expression in mononuclear cells may contribute to IBD pathogenesis. Although the findings need to be confirmed in other populations with larger numbers of patients, the current results demonstrated that polymorphisms in the promoter region of CCL20 are positively associated with the development of Uc.