Jianpi Qingchang decoction alleviates ulcerative colitis by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB activation

Figure 1 Jianpi Qingchang decoction alleviated dextran sodium sulfate-induced experimental colitis. A: Body weight changes after induction of colitis by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS); B: Disease activity index; C: Macroscopic appearance; and D: Length of colon. Data are presented as mean ± SEM of 10 mice in each group. ^aP < 0.01 vs control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs DSS group; ^eP > 0.05 vs 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) group. JPQCD: Jianpi Qingchang decoction.

Figure 2 Jianpi Qingchang decoction reduced proinflammatory mediator production in mice with dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. IL-1β (A), IL-8 (B) and TNF-α (C) in colon were determined by ELISA. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.01 vs control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) group; ^eP > 0.05 vs 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) group. JPQCD: Jianpi Qingchang decoction.

Figure 3 Jianpi Qingchang decoction treatment protected mice against dextran sodium sulfate-induced colon damage. A: Colon tissues were stained with HE; B: Histopathological scores were analyzed from slides. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.01 vs control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) group; ^eP > 0.05 vs 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) group. JPQCD: Jianpi Qingchang decoction.

Figure 4 Jianpi Qingchang decoction reduced mRNA levels in mice with dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. IL-1β (A), IL-8 (B), TNF-α (C) and NF-κB (D) in colon were determined by RT-PCR. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.01 vs control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-group; ^eP > 0.05 vs 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) group. JPQCD: Jianpi Qingchang decoction.

Figure 5 Effects of Jianpi Qingchang decoction on dextran sodium sulfate-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation in mice with experimental colitis. Jianpi Qingchang decoction (JPQCD) and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) suppressed expression of NF-κB while increased that of IκB, as was indicated in western blot. β-actin was used as the internal control. Images are representative of three independent experiments. The dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) group had increased expression of NF-κB, which was reduced by subsequent administration of JPQCD and 5-ASA. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. ^aP < 0.01 vs control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs DSS group; ^eP > 0.05 vs 5-ASA group.