Search

Taurocholate is a natural conjugated bile acid. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of taurocholate in TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. The colitis were induced by rectal administration of TNBS. After 24h, the experimental animals were treated with sulfasalazine (SASP, 500mg/kg/day) and taurocholate (20, 40 and 60mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. The anti-inflammatory effects of taurocholate for colitis were assessed by body weight, colonic weight and length, macroscopic scores, and histopathological examinations. In addition, the colonic tissue levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon (IFN-γ) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were also determined to assess the effect of taurocholate. Compared with the model group, treatment with taurocholate (20, 40 and 60mg/kg) significantly inhibited the body weight loss, improved colonic weight and length, and decreased macroscopic and histopathological scores. Furthermore, the activity accumulation of MPO and the colonic tissue levels of IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α were also decreased by administration of taurocholate. All the findings of this study suggested that taurocholate has the anti-inflammatory effect in ulcerative colitis in mice and indicated it as a good candidate to treat inflammatory bowel disease., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic nonspecific inflammatory disease of unknown cause. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of tauroursodeoxycholate in 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced experimental colitis in mice. After the induction of colitis for 24h, the mice were administrated orally with tauroursodeoxycholate (20, 40 and 60mg/kg) and sulfasalazine (500mg/kg) by gavage for 7 consecutive days. The inhibition effects were evaluated by the body of weight change, survival rate, macroscopical and histological evaluations. Besides, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in colon tissue were also determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Treatment with different doses of tauroursodeoxycholate (20, 40 and 60mg/kg) significantly improved the body weight change, decreased the macroscopic and histopathological scores. Compared with the model group, the accumulation of MPO activity, the colonic tissue levels of IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly reduced in the tauroursodeoxycholate treated groups. Moreover, tauroursodeoxycholate assuaged the symptoms of colitis. These results suggested that tauroursodeoxycholate has an anti-inflammatory effect in TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Picrasma quassiodes (D. Don) Benn.(PQB) is used in folk medicines for the treatment of colds, upper respiratory infection, acute tonsillitis, acute gastroenteritis, bacillary dysentery and a variety of acute infectious diseases in Asia. Although recent reports indicate that PQB has antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects, its effects on colitis and its inhibitory mechanisms have not been previously reported., Aim of the Study: To assess the effects and the mode of action of the extract of Picrasma quassiodes (D. Don) Benn.(PQB) on a model of colitis in mice induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)., Materials and Methods: We induced mice colitis using TNBS/ethanol, then different doses of Picrasma quassiodes (D. Don) Benn.(PQB) extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day) and sulfasalazine (500 mg/kg/day) were administered by gavage for 7 days after the induction of colitis. The mice body weight, colonic wet weight, colonic lengths, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, macroscopic and histological colon injury were observed. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as: tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoassay. The protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the colons were determined by immunohistochemical analysis., Results: PQB administration effectively prevented mice diarrhea, decreasing of the body weights, shortening of colon length and increasing of colon wet weight. Macroscopic and histological examinations also indicated that it was protected against colonic edema, ulceration and MPO activity elevation. Furthermore, PQB inhibited the abnormal secretions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-8. Additionally, administration of PQB effectively inhibited COX-2 and iNOS protein expression., Conclusions: These results suggest that PQB has an anti-inflammatory effect on TNBS-induced colitis due to the down-regulations of the productions and expressions of inflammatory mediators, and that it may be a potential inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) drug candidate., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Tibetan medicine get used to use the flowers of Gentiana straminea Maxim. to cure inflammation of stomach and intestines, hepatitis, cholecystitis, etc. The flowers of Gentiana macrophylla Pall. have been traditionally treated as an anti-inflammatory agent to clear heat in Mongolian medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, Gentiana macrophylla Pall. and Gentiana straminea Maxim. have also been used under the name "Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix" and prescribed for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions., Aim of Study: The present study evaluated the pharmacological effects of two species of "Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae" in experimental inflammation and pain models, and determined the chemical compounds that may correlate with their pharmacological activities. The comparison is needed to identify whether the two related plants can be used interchangeably., Materials and Methods: We evaluated the pharmacological effects of the flowers of Gentiana macrophylla Pall. and Gentiana straminea Maxim. in experimental inflammation and pain models. An HPLC-MS method was developed to analyze the chemical composition. The effects of Gentiana macrophylla Pall. and Gentiana straminea Maxim. on the p65 and p50 phosphorylation were examined by immunblotting. NF-κB transcriptional activity was measured using the luciferase assay, in vitro kinase assay and Griess reaction., Results: The extracts of Gentiana macrophylla Pall. and Gentiana straminea Maxim. possessed significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Flavonoids, secoiridoid glycosides and triterpines were determined in the extracts and may be the basis of the observed pharmacological effects. Nuclear translocation of p65, p50 and NF-κB transcriptional activity induced by LPS were suppressed by Gentiana macrophylla Pall. and Gentiana straminea Maxim., Conclusion: The results clearly demonstrated that the chemical composition and pharmacological activities of the two herbs were similar, which support the interchangeability among the two herbs when using them in folk medicine., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Pulvis Fellis Suis is used in folk medicines to treat intestinal diseases, acute pharyngitis, whooping cough and asthma in China. Although several reports indicate that Pulvis Fellis Suis display diverse biological activities, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-infusorian effects, its effects on ulcerative colitis have not been previously explored. Aim of the study: The purpose of the present study is to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of Pulvis Fellis Suis (PFS) extract in acute ulcerative colitis model induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in mice. Materials and methods: Different doses of Pulvis Fellis Suis extract (100, 200 and 400mg/kg/day) and sulfasalazine (500mg/kg/day) were administered by gavage for 7days after the induction of colitis with TNBS. The efficacy of PFS was studied by macroscopical and histological scoring systems as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Serum levels, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoassay. The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in the colons was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. Results: Treatment with PFS significantly attenuated macroscopic damage as compared with TNBS (P <0.01). Histological analysis showed that PFS improved the microscopic structure and preserved some areas of the colonic mucosa structure. In addition, administration of PFS effectively inhibited COX-2 protein expression and MPO activity accumulation. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were also diminished dose-dependently (P <0.05, P <0.01), and IL-6 level obtained had no significant results by small dose of PFS. All the effects of these parameters were comparable to that of the standard sulfasalazine, especially at the highest dose level. Conclusions: We have shown for the first time that PFS has an anti-inflammatory effect in TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis which might be related to the reduction of up-regulated TNF-α and IL-6 production, and that it may have therapeutic value in the setting of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]