Gut Liver.  2017 Sep;11(5):655-666. 10.5009/gnl16496.

Heme Oxygenase-1 Induction and Anti-inflammatory Actions of Atractylodes macrocephala and Taraxacum herba Extracts Prevented Colitis and Was More Effective than Sulfasalazine in Preventing Relapse

• Han KH
• Park JM
• Jeong M
• Han YM
• Go EJ
• Park J
• Kim H
• Han JG
• Kwon O
• Hahm KB

• KMID: 2389354
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5009/gnl16496

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), repeated bouts of remission and relapse occur in patients and can impose a risk of colitis-associated cancer. We hypothesized that plant extracts of Atractylodes macrocephala (AM) or Taraxacum herba (TH) may be better than sulfasalazine for treating this disease because these extracts can promote additional regeneration.
METHODS
Murine intestinal epithelial IEC-6 cells were pretreated with AM or TH before a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced challenge. Acute colitis was induced with 7 days of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in male C57BL/6 mice, and extracts of AM and TH were administered for 2 weeks before DSS administration.
RESULTS
In vitro studies demonstrated that AM or TH treatment reduced LPS-induced COX-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA levels but increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Oral preadministration of AM and TH rescued mice from DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting inflammatory mediators via inactivated extracellular signal regulated kinase and repressed nuclear factor κB and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, but the effect was weaker for sulfasalazine than that for the extracts. Anti-inflammatory activities occurred via the inhibition of macrophage and T lymphocyte infiltrations. Unlike sulfasalazine, which did not induce HO-1, TH extracts afforded significant HO-1 induction.
CONCLUSIONS
Because the AM or TH extracts were far superior in preventing DSS-induced colitis than sulfasalazine, AM or TH extracts can be considered natural agents that can prevent IBD relapse.

Keyword

Atractylodes macrocephala; Taraxacum herba; Inflammatory bowel disease; Inflammation; Regeneration

MeSH Terms

Animals
Atractylodes*
Colitis*
Dextran Sulfate
Heme Oxygenase-1*
Heme*
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Lymphocytes
Macrophages
Male
Mice
Necrosis
Phosphotransferases
Plant Extracts
Recurrence*
Regeneration
RNA, Messenger
STAT3 Transcription Factor
Sulfasalazine*
Taraxacum*
Dextran Sulfate
Heme
Heme Oxygenase-1
Phosphotransferases
Plant Extracts
RNA, Messenger
STAT3 Transcription Factor
Sulfasalazine