Published online Oct 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i39.14099
Revised: May 30, 2014
Accepted: July 16, 2014
Published online: October 21, 2014
Processing time: 195 Days and 10.2 Hours
Ulcerative colitis (UC), an idiopathic inflammatory disorder in the colon, has become a clinical challenge, owing to the increasing incidence and poor prognosis. The conventional treatments for UC including aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants, induce remission in only half of patients. Meanwhile, the treatments often come with serious side effects which can be life-threatening. Herbal medicine, one of the most common traditional Chinese medicine modalities, has been introduced for centuries into clinical treatment of many human diseases such as infections and functional disorders. Recently, the potential effectiveness of herbs has been suggested as the treatment of UC, as shown by a variety of clinical trials and experimental studies. The herbs reported in the literature include aloe vera gel, butyrate, tormentil extracts, wheat grass juice, and curcumin. In the review, bioactivity of the herbs and their involvement in UC treatment are discussed.
Core tip: Herbal medicine has already been used for some diseases including infections and headache in China since the third century BC. Recently, herbs have emerged as a useful treatment for ulcerative colitis as shown by clinical trials. A better understanding of the herbal bioactivities may provide new alternatives to our current treatment for ulcerative colitis.
- Citation: Wan P, Chen H, Guo Y, Bai AP. Advances in treatment of ulcerative colitis with herbs: From bench to bedside. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20(39): 14099-14104
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v20/i39/14099.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v20.i39.14099
Ulcerative colitis (UC), one type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is characterized by uncontrolled inflammation in the colon and rectum. The incidence and prevalence of UC have been reported to be increasing over the past two decades[1]. Due to its unknown etiology, high risk of recurrence, and poor prognosis, UC has become a clinical challenge in terms of treatment. Meanwhile, conventional therapies for UC fail to successfully induce remission and prevent relapse, and also possibly cause various side effects. Therefore, studies exploring the alternative therapies for UC have become a topic of great interest.
In recent years, herbal medicine, the most common modality of alternative and complementary treatment, has been established for the treatment of UC, and the bioactivities of herbs have been explored by taking a bench-to-bedside approach. Intriguingly, combination treatments with traditional Chinese medicine, especially herbs, have shown to exhibit the preferential effect than single conventional treatment for UC[2], indicating that herb medicine may be a promising alternative treatment for UC in future. In this review, we summarize the potentials of these herbs and their involvement in clinical management of UC.
UC is characterized by aberrant innate and adaptive immune responses. Neutrophils, the first line of innate immune cells, are responsible for intestinal tissue damage, through releasing a large amount of toxic components and free radicals upon stimulation, during the progression of UC[3,4]. Meanwhile, atypical T helper cell (Th) type 2 responses is reported in the pathogenesis of UC, including excessive activation of non-classic natural killer T cells and Th2 cells, as well as substantial production of cytokines, e.g., interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13. Elevated cytokine levels are noted in UC patients, including IL-5, IL-13, and other proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Once released by immune cells, the cytokines act to further trigger immune responses, induce apoptosis of epithelial cells and upregulate claudin-2 expression, which result in impairment of tight junction of intestinal epithelial cells, and herein damage of the epithelial barrier[5-7].
Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) is a transcription factor regulating the expression of a variety of genes, e.g., TNF, in response to extracellular inflammatory stimuli[8]. Since elevated TNF expression is reported in blood[9], stool samples[10], and the mucosa[11] of patients with active UC, it is widely accepted that NF-κB plays a pivotal role in the development of UC. The relevance of NF-κB inhibition in IBD is further demonstrated by treatment of experimental colitis with a NF-κB antisense oligonucleotide, which resulted in amelioration of inflammation in the colon[12].
Intestinal microbiota is also suggested to participate in the progression of UC. A recent study has showed that fecal microbiota composition of UC patients varies significantly from healthy subjects, indicating the potentials of microbial alterations in patients with UC[13]. Intestinal immune cells are tolerant to lumina commensal antigens, but such tolerance is broken as seen in patients with UC and Crohn’s disease[14,15]. The current findings suggest that the defective dynamic balance between commensal microbiota and host defense may contribute to the pathogenesis of UC[16].
Herbal medicine is the traditional Chinese clinical practice using plants or/and plant extracts for medical treatment. Due to lack of desirable efficacy and poor tolerance of conventional drugs, more and more populations prefer to accept herb medicine under disease conditions, e.g., headache and infections. Approximately 9.6% to 12.1% of the US adults use one or more forms of herbal products to alleviate disease symptoms, amongst them proximately 10% for digestive symptoms[17]. Recently, herb medicine is employed in clinical trials for UC treatment in many countries including China and India[18].
To study the clinical effect of herbal medicine treatment on UC patients, we searched the controlled clinical trials in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Trial Register databases. As a result, a total of 9 controlled studies were included regarding the treatment for UC patients by herb medicine. Among them, 5 were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, and one was individually controlled cohort study. These herbs/herb extracts used in the clinical trials included aloe vera gel, butyrate, tormentil extracts, wheat grass juice, and curcumin, which are mainly summarized in Table 1.
Ref. | Herbal medicine | Patient number | Trial design | Treatment method | Duration of treatment | Remission on herb | Remission on placebo |
Langmead et al[22] | Aloe vera gel | 44 | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Oral | 4 wk | 30% | 7% |
Vernia et al[34] | Butyrate | 25 | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Oral | 6 wk | 58.3% | 38.4% |
Huber et al[39] | Tormentil extracts | 16 | Individually controlled cohort study | Oral | 3 wk | - | - |
Ben-Arye et al[42] | Wheat grass juice | 23 | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Oral | 4 wk | Not stated, but wheat grass improved symptoms and bleeding more than placebo | Not stated |
Singla et al[45] | Curcumin | 45 | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Enema | 8 wk | 43.4% | 22.7% |
Hanai et al[46] | 89 | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study | Oral | 6 mo | 95.3% | 79.5% |
The aloe vera plant has been used for skin care as well as medicine for centuries. The leaf of the aloe vera plant consists of two main parts: an inner central leaf pulp that stores aloe vera gel, the bioactive component, and an outer leaf pulp responsible for transportation of aloe vera latex. Aloe vera gel becomes well known due to its anti-inflammatory properties, and is under therapeutic evaluation for UC treatment[19]. For example, aloe vera gel inhibits prostaglandin E2 and IL-8 secretion, while having no effect on thromboxane B2 production in the human colorectal mucosa[20]. Aleo vera gel has been further reported to inhibit the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by PMA-stimulated human neutrophils, and abrogate the ROS-dependent cytotoxicity of neutrophils such as lysis of red blood cells[21]. The anti-inflammatory activities of aloe vera gel provide the evidence that it may have a therapeutic effect on IBD.
The clinical value of aloe vera gel has been assessed. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 44 hospitalized patients with mild or moderate UC received oral aloe vera gel treatment or placebo, 200 mL daily for 4 wk[22]. Clinical remission, improvement and response of the disease had been observed in 9 (30%), 11 (37%) and 14 (47%), respectively, of 30 UC patients taking aloe vera, compared to one (7%), one (7%), and two (14%), respectively, of 14 UC patients receiving placebo. The clinical colitis activity index and histological scores of the patients decreased significantly during treatment with aloe vera (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively), but not with placebo. Endoscopic score and laboratory variables displayed no significant differences in both groups of patients with aloe vera or placebo treatment. Side events were minimal and similar between aloe vera and placebo.
Butyrate, a four-carbon short-chain fatty acid, is the main metabolite in the colon derived from bacterial fermentation, and also an important energy source of intestinal epithelial cells. Depletion in butyrate-producing microbial communities has been reported in colon mucosal samples from UC patients, attributing to deficiency of butyrate production and exhaustion of energy supplies to intestinal epithelial cells[23,24]. Nevertheless, oral supplement of butyrate exhibits anti-inflammation functions, and ameliorates murine colitis, via reduction of neutrophil infiltration and attenuation of intestinal inflammation[25]. Currently, functions of butyrate have been linked with regulation of innate immune responses. For example, butyrate down-regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of proinflammatory mediators by macrophages and neutrophils, including nitric oxide, IL-6, and IL-12, through inhibition of NF-κB activation and histone deacetylase activities[26-29]. Butyrate has also emerged as a modulator of adaptive responses, owing to its multiple bio-functions, i.e., restoring transforming growth factor beta and IL-10 production in the colon mucosa, inducing T cell apoptosis and dampening interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion[30].
Clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of butyrate monotherapy or/and in combination with conventional treatment in patients with UC, di-version colitis, as well as acute radiation proctitis[31-33].
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study on UC patients was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral sodium butyrate tablets, coated with a pH-dependent soluble polymer[34]. Administration of butyrate (4 gram daily) in combination with mesalazine significantly improved the disease activity score in 25 patients with active UC, in comparison with mesalazine treatment alone. The combined treatments other than mesalazine alone decreased disease activity index score, and significantly improved disease outcomes vs baseline values (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the histological and endoscopic scores improved after treatment in both groups (P < 0.05). The similar observations were reported in other non-controlled clinical trials using oral administration or enemas of butyrate[32,35,36].
Tormentil is a member of the rose family that grows wild over Europe. Tormentil extracts contain a high content of tannins which displays potent superoxide-scavenging effects, suggesting tannins as an anti-inflammatory agent. Tormentil has also been shown to be effective in treatment of diarrhea or intestinal inflammation[37,38]. In vitro studies have further confirmed the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and bacterial growth regulatory effects of tormentil extracts[37].
Positive results of tormentil extract treatment have been observed in individual patients with UC[39]. Sixteen patients with active disease took oral tormentil extracts in escalating doses of 1200, 1800, 2400, and 3000 mg every day for three weeks each. Every treatment phase was followed by a 4-wk washout phase. During treatment with 2400 mg of tormentil extracts per day, the clinical activity index, and C-reactive protein levels decreased from 8 mg/L (range: 6-10.75 mg/L) and 8 mg/L (range: 3-17.75 mg/L) at baseline to 4.5 mg/L (range: 1.75-6 mg/L) and 3 mg/L (range: 3-6 mg/L), respectively. During treatment, the clinical activity index improved in all patients, but it turned to increase during the washout phase. There were no apparent side effects with tormentil extract treatment observed during the study.
Wheat grass juice is the extract from the pulp of wheat grass and has been used for the treatment of various intestinal diseases and thalassemia for several years. By radical scavenging in correlation with phenolic and flavonoid contents inside, wheatgrass extracts exhibited an antioxidant activity[40]. In particular, pigenin, the main constituent in wheat grass, was shown to inhibit the production of proinflammatory cytokines, e.g., IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF in LPS-stimulated human and mouse macrophages, by inactivating NF-κB through suppression of p65 phosphorylation[41].
The clinical usage of wheat grass juice in UC treatment has been reported[42]. In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 23 patients with active UC were randomly grouped to receive either 100 mL of wheat grass juice, or the same volume of placebo, daily for 1 mo. Efficacy of treatment was evaluated by disease activity index, bleeding feces, number of bowel movements, sigmoidoscopic evaluation, and global assessment. The patients treated with wheat grass juice showed significant reductions in disease activity index (P = 0.031) and severity of rectal bleeding (P = 0.025), in contrast to those receiving placebo. No adverse effects of wheat grass juice were observed.
Curcumin is an active phytochemical substance in turmeric, and exhibits pharmacologic activities that might benefit patients with UC. A large number of publications have reported the promising pharmacologic effects of curcumin, i.e., inhibition of expression of a variety of inflammatory genes, including cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, lipoxygenase, TNF, IFN-γ, inducible nitric oxide synthase, as well as abrogation of NF-κB activation[43]. Recently, curcumin has been shown to attenuate colonic inflammation through direct inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis and chemokinesis, and partly through inhibition of the chemokine expression[44].
Clinical trials have evaluated the therapeutic effect of curcumin in patients with mild-to-moderate UC. In a randomized, double-blind, single-centre pilot study, 45 patients received oral 5-aminosalicylic acid in combination with either curcumin preparation (140 mg in 20 mL water) or placebo enema. The patients receiving additional curcumin preparation treatment showed improvements in disease activity, compared with those patients with placebo enema[45]. Another group also showed the similar efficacy of combination treatment of curcumin (2 g daily) and sulfasalazine or mesalamine in maintenance therapy for 89 patients with quiescent UC, indicating that curcumin may confer additional therapeutic advantages when used in combination with conventional anti-inflammatory medications in UC[46].
So far, it remains unclear about the safety of herb medicine. Butyrate, the most common treatment used for UC patients, has been shown to be relatively safe for UC patients. Hallert et al[47] reported that supplement of dietary fiber elevated the fecal butyrate level, and kept UC patients in remission, without increment in gastrointestinal complaints during the trial. Recently, a meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and tolerance of herbal medicines in patients with IBD. With the results from seven placebo-controlled clinical trials, the analysis has showed that herbal medicines can induce clinical response and remission in IBD patients, without serious side events[48].
Due to limitation of human studies, animal models become alternatives to explore the safety of herbs. Acute toxicity of Tormentil rhizomes was assessed in rats and mice, with a single dose administration by gavage of 2.5 and 6.8 g/kg (body weight), respectively[49]. No apparent toxic effects have been recorded at two weeks after the administration of Tormentil rhizomes. Nevertheless, some researchers questioned the safety of herbs with the evidence that fatal hepatic and irreversible renal failure occurred with some herb preparations, and that interactions of herbs with conventional drugs were potentially detrimental[50]. Meanwhile, a recent study has reported the increased incidences of mucosa hyperplasia and goblet cell hyperplasia in the colon of rats and mice at 13 wk after exposure to drinking water containing aloe vera[51]. Thus, the safety and long-term benefits of herb medicine need to be intensively investigated before it can be applied for patients.
Because of the relatively natural and multiple biological properties, herbs have emerged as the alternative for current treatment of inflammatory disorders, including UC. Clinical trials have indicated the promising possibility of herb medicine for UC treatment. However, there have some concerns to be clarified before herb medicine can be securely introduced into UC patients. So far, the clinical trials with herb medicine treatment were conducted in a small number of UC patients, and large case-controlled studies and reliable data about the detailed mechanism of the herbs are still lacking. Meanwhile, herbal preparations are the mixture containing a huge range of biological compounds, other than purified single component. It might not be known which component in the herbs provides the exact pharmacological effects, even in some cases the herb mixtures exhibit clinical benefits. Thus, determination of herb components, dosage and course of herb treatment becomes a challenge for clinical employment. In addition, the safety of herb medicine remains to be further investigated, especially under long term treatment.
Overall, herb medicine treatment becomes widespread and prevalent, with encouraging results from clinical trials. Further evidence about the components of herbs and their bio-functions will shed light on clinical administrations of herb medicine in future. With discerned safety of herbs, herb medicine itself or in combination with conventional therapies would largely benefit patients with UC and other immune disorders.
P- Reviewer: Lakatos P, Li JF, Pontone S S- Editor: Gou SX L- Editor: Wang TQ E- Editor: Liu XM
1. | Thia KT, Loftus EV, Sandborn WJ, Yang SK. An update on the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in Asia. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008;103:3167-3182. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 371] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 393] [Article Influence: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis (1)] |
2. | Chen Q, Zhang H. Clinical study on 118 cases of ulcerative colitis treated by integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. J Tradit Chin Med. 1999;19:163-165. [PubMed] [Cited in This Article: ] |
3. | Wirtz S, Neurath MF. Mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2007;59:1073-1083. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 326] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 344] [Article Influence: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis (1)] |
4. | Elson CO, Cong Y, McCracken VJ, Dimmitt RA, Lorenz RG, Weaver CT. Experimental models of inflammatory bowel disease reveal innate, adaptive, and regulatory mechanisms of host dialogue with the microbiota. Immunol Rev. 2005;206:260-276. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 370] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 369] [Article Influence: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis (1)] |
5. | Heller F, Florian P, Bojarski C, Richter J, Christ M, Hillenbrand B, Mankertz J, Gitter AH, Bürgel N, Fromm M. Interleukin-13 is the key effector Th2 cytokine in ulcerative colitis that affects epithelial tight junctions, apoptosis, and cell restitution. Gastroenterology. 2005;129:550-564. [PubMed] [Cited in This Article: ] |
6. | Schulzke JD, Ploeger S, Amasheh M, Fromm A, Zeissig S, Troeger H, Richter J, Bojarski C, Schumann M, Fromm M. Epithelial tight junctions in intestinal inflammation. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009;1165:294-300. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 260] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 289] [Article Influence: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
7. | Heller F, Fromm A, Gitter AH, Mankertz J, Schulzke JD. Epithelial apoptosis is a prominent feature of the epithelial barrier disturbance in intestinal inflammation: effect of pro-inflammatory interleukin-13 on epithelial cell function. Mucosal Immunol. 2008;1 Suppl 1:S58-S61. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 79] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 85] [Article Influence: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
8. | Handschick K, Beuerlein K, Jurida L, Bartkuhn M, Müller H, Soelch J, Weber A, Dittrich-Breiholz O, Schneider H, Scharfe M. Cyclin-dependent kinase 6 is a chromatin-bound cofactor for NF-κB-dependent gene expression. Mol Cell. 2014;53:193-208. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 102] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 109] [Article Influence: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
9. | Murch SH, Lamkin VA, Savage MO, Walker-Smith JA, MacDonald TT. Serum concentrations of tumour necrosis factor alpha in childhood chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Gut. 1991;32:913-917. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 349] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 363] [Article Influence: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
10. | Braegger CP, Nicholls S, Murch SH, Stephens S, MacDonald TT. Tumour necrosis factor alpha in stool as a marker of intestinal inflammation. Lancet. 1992;339:89-91. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 500] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 471] [Article Influence: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
11. | Masuda H, Iwai S, Tanaka T, Hayakawa S. Expression of IL-8, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma m-RNA in ulcerative colitis, particularly in patients with inactive phase. J Clin Lab Immunol. 1995;46:111-123. [PubMed] [Cited in This Article: ] |
12. | Neurath MF, Pettersson S, Meyer zum Büschenfelde KH, Strober W. Local administration of antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides to the p65 subunit of NF-kappa B abrogates established experimental colitis in mice. Nat Med. 1996;2:998-1004. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 618] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 641] [Article Influence: 22.9] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
13. | Rajilić-Stojanović M, Shanahan F, Guarner F, de Vos WM. Phylogenetic analysis of dysbiosis in ulcerative colitis during remission. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2013;19:481-488. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 247] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 264] [Article Influence: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
14. | Kaser A, Zeissig S, Blumberg RS. Inflammatory bowel disease. Annu Rev Immunol. 2010;28:573-621. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 1352] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 1467] [Article Influence: 104.8] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
15. | Maloy KJ, Powrie F. Intestinal homeostasis and its breakdown in inflammatory bowel disease. Nature. 2011;474:298-306. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 1218] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 1356] [Article Influence: 104.3] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
16. | Xavier RJ, Podolsky DK. Unravelling the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Nature. 2007;448:427-434. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 2894] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 3169] [Article Influence: 186.4] [Reference Citation Analysis (10)] |
17. | Comar KM, Kirby DF. Herbal remedies in gastroenterology. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005;39:457-468. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 39] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 41] [Article Influence: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
18. | D’Inca R, Garribba AT, Vettorato MG, Martin A, Martines D, Di Leo V, Buda A, Sturniolo GC. Use of alternative and complementary therapies by inflammatory bowel disease patients in an Italian tertiary referral centre. Dig Liver Dis. 2007;39:524-529. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 18] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 21] [Article Influence: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
19. | Hecht A. The overselling of aloe vera. FDA Consum. 1981;15:26-29. [Cited in This Article: ] |
20. | Langmead L, Makins RJ, Rampton DS. Anti-inflammatory effects of aloe vera gel in human colorectal mucosa in vitro. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004;19:521-527. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 135] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 144] [Article Influence: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
21. | ‘t Hart LA, Nibbering PH, van den Barselaar MT, van Dijk H, van den Berg AJ, Labadie RP. Effects of low molecular constituents from Aloe vera gel on oxidative metabolism and cytotoxic and bactericidal activities of human neutrophils. Int J Immunopharmacol. 1990;12:427-434. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 37] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 38] [Article Influence: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
22. | Langmead L, Feakins RM, Goldthorpe S, Holt H, Tsironi E, De Silva A, Jewell DP, Rampton DS. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004;19:739-747. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 173] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 145] [Article Influence: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
23. | Vermeiren J, Van den Abbeele P, Laukens D, Vigsnaes LK, De Vos M, Boon N, Van de Wiele T. Decreased colonization of fecal Clostridium coccoides/Eubacterium rectale species from ulcerative colitis patients in an in vitro dynamic gut model with mucin environment. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2012;79:685-696. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 81] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 90] [Article Influence: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis (1)] |
24. | Kumari R, Ahuja V, Paul J. Fluctuations in butyrate-producing bacteria in ulcerative colitis patients of North India. World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19:3404-3414. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in CrossRef: 143] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 143] [Article Influence: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis (2)] |
25. | Vieira EL, Leonel AJ, Sad AP, Beltrão NR, Costa TF, Ferreira TM, Gomes-Santos AC, Faria AM, Peluzio MC, Cara DC. Oral administration of sodium butyrate attenuates inflammation and mucosal lesion in experimental acute ulcerative colitis. J Nutr Biochem. 2012;23:430-436. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 179] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 168] [Article Influence: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
26. | Chang PV, Hao L, Offermanns S, Medzhitov R. The microbial metabolite butyrate regulates intestinal macrophage function via histone deacetylase inhibition. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2014;111:2247-2252. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 1079] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 1333] [Article Influence: 133.3] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
27. | Lührs H, Gerke T, Schauber J, Dusel G, Melcher R, Scheppach W, Menzel T. Cytokine-activated degradation of inhibitory kappaB protein alpha is inhibited by the short-chain fatty acid butyrate. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2001;16:195-201. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 54] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 61] [Article Influence: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
28. | Segain JP, Raingeard de la Blétière D, Bourreille A, Leray V, Gervois N, Rosales C, Ferrier L, Bonnet C, Blottière HM, Galmiche JP. Butyrate inhibits inflammatory responses through NFkappaB inhibition: implications for Crohn’s disease. Gut. 2000;47:397-403. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 886] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 918] [Article Influence: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
29. | Lührs H, Gerke T, Müller JG, Melcher R, Schauber J, Boxberge F, Scheppach W, Menzel T. Butyrate inhibits NF-kappaB activation in lamina propria macrophages of patients with ulcerative colitis. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2002;37:458-466. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 298] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 337] [Article Influence: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
30. | Zimmerman MA, Singh N, Martin PM, Thangaraju M, Ganapathy V, Waller JL, Shi H, Robertson KD, Munn DH, Liu K. Butyrate suppresses colonic inflammation through HDAC1-dependent Fas upregulation and Fas-mediated apoptosis of T cells. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2012;302:G1405-G1415. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 178] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 188] [Article Influence: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
31. | Harig JM, Soergel KH, Komorowski RA, Wood CM. Treatment of diversion colitis with short-chain-fatty acid irrigation. N Engl J Med. 1989;320:23-28. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 596] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 508] [Article Influence: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
32. | Scheppach W, Sommer H, Kirchner T, Paganelli GM, Bartram P, Christl S, Richter F, Dusel G, Kasper H. Effect of butyrate enemas on the colonic mucosa in distal ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology. 1992;103:51-56. [PubMed] [Cited in This Article: ] |
33. | Vernia P, Fracasso PL, Casale V, Villotti G, Marcheggiano A, Stigliano V, Pinnaro P, Bagnardi V, Caprilli R. Topical butyrate for acute radiation proctitis: randomised, crossover trial. Lancet. 2000;356:1232-1235. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 93] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 78] [Article Influence: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
34. | Vernia P, Monteleone G, Grandinetti G, Villotti G, Di Giulio E, Frieri G, Marcheggiano A, Pallone F, Caprilli R, Torsoli A. Combined oral sodium butyrate and mesalazine treatment compared to oral mesalazine alone in ulcerative colitis: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Dig Dis Sci. 2000;45:976-981. [PubMed] [Cited in This Article: ] |
35. | Patz J, Jacobsohn WZ, Gottschalk-Sabag S, Zeides S, Braverman DZ. Treatment of refractory distal ulcerative colitis with short chain fatty acid enemas. Am J Gastroenterol. 1996;91:731-734. [PubMed] [Cited in This Article: ] |
36. | Scheppach W. Treatment of distal ulcerative colitis with short-chain fatty acid enemas. A placebo-controlled trial. German-Austrian SCFA Study Group. Dig Dis Sci. 1996;41:2254-2259. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 140] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 130] [Article Influence: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
37. | Bos MA, Vennat B, Meunier MT, Pouget MP, Pourrat A, Fialip J. Procyanidins from tormentil: antioxidant properties towards lipoperoxidation and anti-elastase activity. Biol Pharm Bull. 1996;19:146-148. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 34] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 36] [Article Influence: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis (3)] |
38. | Vennat B, Bos MA, Pourrat A, Bastide P. Procyanidins from tormentil: fractionation and study of the anti-radical activity towards superoxide anion. Biol Pharm Bull. 1994;17:1613-1615. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 47] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 49] [Article Influence: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
39. | Huber R, Ditfurth AV, Amann F, Güthlin C, Rostock M, Trittler R, Kümmerer K, Merfort I. Tormentil for active ulcerative colitis: an open-label, dose-escalating study. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2007;41:834-838. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 35] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 36] [Article Influence: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
40. | Kulkarni SD, Tilak JC, Acharya R, Rajurkar NS, Devasagayam TP, Reddy AV. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) as a function of growth under different conditions. Phytother Res. 2006;20:218-227. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 68] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 54] [Article Influence: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
41. | Nicholas C, Batra S, Vargo MA, Voss OH, Gavrilin MA, Wewers MD, Guttridge DC, Grotewold E, Doseff AI. Apigenin blocks lipopolysaccharide-induced lethality in vivo and proinflammatory cytokines expression by inactivating NF-kappaB through the suppression of p65 phosphorylation. J Immunol. 2007;179:7121-7127. [PubMed] [Cited in This Article: ] |
42. | Ben-Arye E, Goldin E, Wengrower D, Stamper A, Kohn R, Berry E. Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2002;37:444-449. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 118] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 106] [Article Influence: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
43. | Hanai H, Sugimoto K. Curcumin has bright prospects for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Curr Pharm Des. 2009;15:2087-2094. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 109] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 112] [Article Influence: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
44. | Larmonier CB, Midura-Kiela MT, Ramalingam R, Laubitz D, Janikashvili N, Larmonier N, Ghishan FK, Kiela PR. Modulation of neutrophil motility by curcumin: implications for inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2011;17:503-515. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 65] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 66] [Article Influence: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
45. | Singla V, Pratap Mouli V, Garg SK, Rai T, Choudhury BN, Verma P, Deb R, Tiwari V, Rohatgi S, Dhingra R. Induction with NCB-02 (curcumin) enema for mild-to-moderate distal ulcerative colitis - a randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study. J Crohns Colitis. 2014;8:208-214. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 113] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 122] [Article Influence: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis (2)] |
46. | Hanai H, Iida T, Takeuchi K, Watanabe F, Maruyama Y, Andoh A, Tsujikawa T, Fujiyama Y, Mitsuyama K, Sata M. Curcumin maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006;4:1502-1506. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 406] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 396] [Article Influence: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis (3)] |
47. | Hallert C, Björck I, Nyman M, Pousette A, Grännö C, Svensson H. Increasing fecal butyrate in ulcerative colitis patients by diet: controlled pilot study. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2003;9:116-121. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 140] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 142] [Article Influence: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
48. | Rahimi R, Nikfar S, Abdollahi M. Induction of clinical response and remission of inflammatory bowel disease by use of herbal medicines: a meta-analysis. World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19:5738-5749. [PubMed] [Cited in This Article: ] |
49. | Shushunov S, Balashov L, Kravtsova A, Krasnogorsky I, Latté KP, Vasiliev A. Determination of acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of Potentilla erecta (Tormentil) rhizomes in rats and mice. J Med Food. 2009;12:1173-1176. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 25] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 25] [Article Influence: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
50. | Langmead L, Rampton DS. Review article: complementary and alternative therapies for inflammatory bowel disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2006;23:341-349. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 123] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 112] [Article Influence: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |
51. | Boudreau MD, Mellick PW, Olson GR, Felton RP, Thorn BT, Beland FA. Clear evidence of carcinogenic activity by a whole-leaf extract of Aloe barbadensis miller (aloe vera) in F344/N rats. Toxicol Sci. 2013;131:26-39. [PubMed] [DOI] [Cited in This Article: ] [Cited by in Crossref: 65] [Cited by in F6Publishing: 52] [Article Influence: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis (0)] |