Inhibitory Effects of Angelica gigas Nakai on Ulcerative Colitis in DSS-induced ICR Mice

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Angelica gigas Nakai on ulcerative colitis. Mice were divided into 5 groups: Control group, DSS group, 5-ASA group, 50mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group, 100mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group. Four groups, excluding the control group, were fed a 5% solution of dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) in water for 7days to induce ulcerative colitis. Each water extract was administrated orally for 7 days in 5-ASA group, 50mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group and 100mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group. 5 groups were evaluated by weight, length of intestine, weight of spleen, disease activity index(DAI), amount of cytokine IL-6 production, thickness of bowel wall and degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and intestinal tissue damage. Comparing to DSS group, 100 mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group showed significant suppressive effect of weight loss until 4th day of experiment while 50 mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group showed no significant effect of suppression. Decrease of intestinal length, enlargement of spleen, intestinal tissue damage and thickening of bowel wall were significantly suppressed in both 50 mg/kg and 100mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group. Also disease activity and cytokine IL-6 production were inhibited significantly. Based on this result, Angelica gigas Nakai seemed to have anti-inflammatory effect and also seemed to suppress histological changes and aggravation of ulcerative colitis.