Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of thymol on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis in mice.Methods: Colitis in mice was induced by drinking water with 2.5 % (w/v) DSS. The levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide (SOD) in colonic tissues were determined using commercial kits. Histological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by Griess assay. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were assessed by quantitative PCR and ELISA kits. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway activation was determined by Western blot.Results: Thymol markedly reduced disease activity index (DAI) scores, and recovered the colon length. Histological damage and MPO levels in the colonic tissues were markedly inhibited (p < 0.05) by thymol, which also reduced mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the colon. In addition, it downregulated MDA level but elevated GSH and SOD levels. Moreover, in vitro data showed that thymol significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) lipopolysaccharide-induced secretion of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in macrophages, and suppressed (p < 0.05) the activation of NF-κB pathway.Conclusion: Thymol attenuates experimental colitis by down-regulating the activation of NF-κB pathway. Therefore, thymol is a potential candidate drug for the management of ulcerative colitis.Keywords: Thymol, Ulcerative colitis, Dextran sulfate sodium, Macrophages, Nuclear factor-kappaB
Highlights
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder in the colon, which harms the life quality of patients, but elevates the probability of colorectal cancer [1,2]
Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice has been extensively applied for UC study, which is characterized by many symptoms mimic some clinical features in human UC such as body weight loss, diarrhea, blood in stool and mucosal ulceration [4]
To determine the effect of thymol on experimental colitis, colitis was induced by adding DSS into drinking water in mice
Summary
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder in the colon, which harms the life quality of patients, but elevates the probability of colorectal cancer [1,2]. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice has been extensively applied for UC study, which is characterized by many symptoms mimic some clinical features in human UC such as body weight loss, diarrhea, blood in stool and mucosal ulceration [4]. Trop J Pharm Res, September 2018; 17(9): 1803 aminosalicylates (5-ASA) and corticosteroids, which mainly focus on the reduction of the inflammatory response and abnormal immune responses Adverse effects such as diarrhea, cramps, fever, rash and kidney problems are associated with 5-ASA administration. The present study was to investigate the effect of thymol on DSS-induced colitis in mice. Levels of MDA, GSH, SOD and MPO in colon homogenate were determined according to the manufacturer’s protocol. According to the manufacture’s protocol, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in cell supernatant were determined using specific ELISA kits
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