Protective Effect of HT057 Treatment on Dextran Sulfate Sodium Induced Colitis in Mice

Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic and frequently disabling inflammatory disorder of the intestine. Atractylodes macrocephala and Taraxacum mongolicum have been used for various inflammatory diseases in traditional Korean medicine and can be used as food ingredients worldwide. In this study, protective effect of the herbal mixture of A. macrecephala and T. mongolicum (HT057) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced experimental colitis which mimics the clinical and histological features of IBD. Colitis was induced by 5% DSS with drinking water in balb/c mice. HT057 (30, 100 or 300 mg/kg) was orally administered to mice twice per day for 10 days. Colon length, mouse weight, disease activity index (DAI), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and histological score were measured after administration. HT057 significantly improved the colon length (7.2%, p<0.01 at 100 mg/kg) which reflects the extent of colon damage in IBD as compared to control group. Mice with DSS‐induced colitis showed loss of body weight and DAI score which is a result of IBD along with diarrhea and blood loss compared to normal group, while mice treated with HT057 showed significantly protected the loss of body weight (7.8%, p<0.001 at 100 mg/kg) and DAI score (27.6%, p<0.001 at 300 mg/kg). HT057 also significantly reduced MPO activity, and histological score which reflect the severity and extent of inflammation. In conclusion, HT057 has protective effect in inflammatory intestinal mucosal injury against DSS induced colitis and these findings suggest that HT057 might be a promising functional food ingredient against IBD.