Protective effects of Ulmus macrocarpa on experimental colitis mice models

Abstract

In traditional Korean medicine, Ulmus macrocarpa Hance is a frequently used herb in South Korea for treating intestinal disorders such as colitis. This study investigated whether water extract of Ulmus macrocarpa Hance (UME) could show a protective action on 2 different mice models of experimental colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS), which have been widely used as inflammatory bowel disease models. Colitis was induced by DSS and TNBS in balb/c mice, respectively. UME at doses of 100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg was orally administered twice a day for 7 d in the DSS model and at doses of 300 or 1000 mg/kg for 3 d in the TNBS model. The body weight of the mice and clinical score were measured daily. Colon length and macroscopic score were assessed on day 7 in the DSS model and on day 3 in the TNBS model. In the DSS model, UME inhibited shortening of colon length and macroscopic damages of the colon, and showed improvement of clinical score, however it did not inhibit weight loss. In the TNBS model, UME did not inhibit weight loss and shortening of colon length. The current results indicate that UME ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice similar to human ulcerative colitis, not TNBS-induced colitis in mice similar to human Crohn’s disease. Further investigations to unveil the exact mechanisms are needed.