Abstract
BackgroundGlycyrrhizae Radix (GR) is a Korean traditional herb medicine that is widely-used in clinical health care. The clinical functions of GR include relief of toxicity, anti-cancer, regulating blood cholesterol and anti-inflammation. This study investigated the role of GR on ulcerative colitis in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model of colitis.MethodWestern blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses were done on male BALB/c mice administered 5 % DSS during the experimental period. Ethanol extracts of GR were orally administered at same time daily to control mice. The severity of colitis was measured by body weight change and colon length.ResultDSS-treated mice displayed weight loss and shortened colon length compared with control mice. Mice were administered GR showed less weight loss and longer colon length than the DSS-treated group. Inflammatory cytokines were decreased by GR treatment. Treatment also reduced DSS-induced microscopic damage to colon tissue. GR regulated the phosphorylation of transcription factors such as NF-κB p65 and IκB α.ConclusionsGR has beneficial effects in a colitis model. GR might be a useful herb medicine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Highlights
Glycyrrhizae Radix (GR) is a Korean traditional herb medicine that is widely-used in clinical health care
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disease characterized by dysregulation of the immune function response and imbalanced release of cytokines and unresolved inflammatory progress associated with intestinal mucosa [1, 2]
To explore the potential of GR as a useful therapeutic in UC, we examined its effects on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model
Summary
Effects of GR on clinical signs in DSS-induced colitis DSS caused a decrease in body weight (Fig. 1a) and colon length (Fig. 2a and b) at day 7 by 17.1 and 40.8 %. Effect of GR on IL-6 and TNF-α levels in DSS-induced UC Serum IL-6 level was significantly higher in the DSS treatment group (85.403 ± 10.719 pg/mL) than in the control group (9.44 ± 0.942 pg/mL). The serum TNF-α level was increased in the DSS treatment group (828.623 ± 110.387 pg/mL) compared to control group (95.786 ± 11.485 pg/mL), but was lower in the GR groups (50 mg/kg; 391.052 ± 63.914 pg/mL) (Fig. 3b). Tissue IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the DSS treatment group (524.809 ± 28.643, 5648.749 ± 395.143 pg/mL) than in the control group (61.640 ± 9.275, 1316.768 ± 156.371 pg/mL), but were significantly decreased by GR DSS markedly induced COX-2 expression in colon tissue versus control group, but increased COX-2 expression was significantly reduced by GR administration (Fig. 5a). Quantitative analysis of glycyrrhetic acid indicated a concentration of 0.027 mg/g in the extract
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