Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2005. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2005; 11(31): 4912-4915
Published online Aug 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i31.4912
Anti-inflammatory mechanism of oxymatrine in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis of rats
Ping Zheng, Feng-Li Niu, Wen-Zhong Liu, Yao Shi, Lun-Gen Lu
Ping Zheng, Feng-Li Niu, Wen-Zhong Liu, Yao Shi, Lun-Gen Lu, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200127, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the University Science and Technology Development Foundation of Shanghai, No. 00B07
Correspondence to: Professor Ping Zheng, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200127, China. yxfan@danfoss.com.cn
Telephone: +86-21-63364118 Fax: +86-21-63364118
Received: March 6, 2006
Revised: July 10, 2005
Accepted: July 15, 2005
Published online: August 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of oxymatrine in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis of rats.

METHODS: Acute colitis was induced by giving 2% DSS orally in drinking water for 8 d. Twenty-six male rats were randomized into oxymatrine-treated group (group A, 10 rats), DSS control (group B, 10 rats) and normal control (group C, 6 rats). The rats in group A were injected muscularly with oxymatrine at the dosage of 63 mg/(kg穌) from d 1 to 11 and drank 2% DSS solution from d 4 to 11. The rats in group B were treated with 0.9% saline in an equal volume as group A and drank 2% DSS solution from d 4 to 11. The rats in group C were treated with 0.9% saline as group B from d 1 to 11 and drank water normally. Diarrhea and bloody stool as well as colonic histology were observed. The levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined by ELISA, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity and the expression of inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in colonic mucosa were detected by immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTS: Compared with DSS control group, the inflammatory symptoms and histological damages of colonic mucosa in oxymatrine-treated group were significantly improved, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and the expression of NF-κB, ICAM-1 in colonic mucosa were significantly reduced.

CONCLUSION: The fact that oxymatrine can reduce the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and the expression of NF-κB and ICAM-1 in colonic mucosa in DSS-induced colitis of rats indicates that oxymatrine may ameliorate the colonic inflammation and thus alleviate diarrhea and bloody stool.

Keywords: Oxymatrine; Colitis; Colonic mucosa