Abstract
The hydroalcoholic extract of B. dracunculifolia (HEBD) and its major compound p-coumaric acid were evaluated against the severity of intestinal inflammation and behavioral changes like depressive and anxious behavior in colitis mice. Colitis was induced in Swiss mice by oral dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) administration for five days. The mice received vehicle (10 ml/kg), HEBD (3, 30, or 300 mg/kg), or p-coumaric acid (15 mg/kg) orally, once a day for twelve days. Behavioral tests were performed on the 11th and 12th days after the beginning of the treatments. Moreover, the colon, cortex, and hippocampus were collected to analyze oxidative and inflammatory parameters. The treatment with HEBD (300 mg/Kg), but not p-coumaric acid, showed decreased disease activity index (DAI) values compared to the vehicle group and partially preserved the villi architecture and mucin levels. Furthermore, the HEBD increased the antioxidant defenses in the colon and hippocampus and reduced the myeloperoxidase activity and IL-6 levels in the colon from colitis mice. Colitis mice treated with HEBD did not show depressive-like behavior in the tail suspension test. HEBD reduced colon inflammation, while it maintains antioxidant defenses and mucin levels in this tissue. It may reduce neuropsychiatric comorbidities associated with colitis through its antioxidant effects.
Highlights
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic disease defined as a chronic colon and rectum inflammatory process
Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of B. dracunculifolia (HEBD) and p-Coumaric Acid on Weight Loss and disease activity index (DAI) Score in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-Induced Colitis Mice. e DAI score in the colitis mice treated with a vehicle reached media equal to 10.5 ± 1.05, whereas the colitis mice treated with HEBD (300 mg/kg, p.o) experienced a decrease in this value from 10th day of the treatment, compared with the vehicle group (Figure 1(a))
It was observed 39.2% of reduction in DAI score in the mice treated with HEBD (300 mg/kg, p.o) after the end of the treatment period, compared with the vehicle group (Figure 1(b))
Summary
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic disease defined as a chronic colon and rectum inflammatory process. Herbal medicine has become a frequent therapeutic resource in patients with UC [7]; the development of studies related to the pharmacological potential of medicinal plants becomes essential and a fertile field for increasing the therapeutic arsenal to the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this context, Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae), known as “alecrim-docampo,” a medicinal shrub native to Brazil, can be a natural resource in obtaining herbal medicines or phytopharmaceuticals for IBD treatment, especially UC
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