Aegle marmelos fruit extract abates dextran sodium sulfate induced acute colitis in mice: Repression of pro-inflammatory cytokines during colonic inflammation

Enteric-Coated Cologrit Tablet Exhibit Robust Anti-Inflammatory Response in Ulcerative Colitis-like In-Vitro Models by Attuning NFκB-Centric Signaling Axis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the patients' colorectal area culminating in an inflamed 'leaky gut.' The majority of UC treatments only provide temporary respite leading to its relapse. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of the enteric-coated 'Cologrit' (EC) tablet in alleviating UC-like inflammation. Cologrit is formulated using polyherbal extracts that have anti-inflammatory qualities according to ancient Ayurveda scriptures. Phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of gallic acid, rutin, ellagic acid, and imperatorin in Cologrit formulation. Cologrit treatment decreased inflammation in LPS-induced transformed THP-1 macrophages, and TNF-α-stimulated human colorectal (HT-29) cells through the modulation of NFκB activity, IL-6 production, and NFκB, IL-1β, IL-8, and CXCL5 mRNA expression levels. Cologrit also lessened human monocytic (U937) cell adhesion to HT29 cells. Methacrylic acid-ethylacrylate copolymer-coating of the enteric Cologrit tablets (EC) supported their dissolution, and the release of phytochemicals in the small intestine pH 7.0 environment in a simulated gastrointestinal digestion model. Small intestine EC digestae effectively abridged dextran sodium sulfate (2.5% w/v)-induced cell viability loss and oxidative stress in human colon epithelial Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, the enteric-coated Cologrit tablets demonstrated good small intestine-specific phytochemical delivery capability, and decreased UC-like inflammation, and oxidative stress through the regulation of TNF-α/NFκB/IL6 signaling axis.

Interleukin 6 inhibition by triptolide prevents inflammation in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis

The present study aimed to assess interleukin (IL)-6 expression in a murine model of ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and its potential association with the anti-colitis effects of triptolide (TL). Serum IL-6 levels were measured by ELISA. IL-6 gene expression levels in colonic mucosa specimens were assessed by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR and protein expression was evaluated by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The expression of IL-6 was weak in mucosa specimens from normal control animals and upregulated in DSS-induced mice. In model mice treated with TL (0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg), dexamethasone or mesalazine, IL-6 expression was significantly reduced compared with that in model mice treated with normal saline or propylene glycol (P<0.05), while TL at 0.2 mg/kg did not elicit any significant inhibitory effect. There was no significant difference among TL (0.4 mg/kg and 0.6 mg/kg), mesalazine and dexamethasone treatments (P>0.05) in terms of IL-6 expression or histological score. The results of the present study indicated that IL-6 was overexpressed in a mouse model of UC and was involved in disease progression. In addition, TL exerted therapeutic effects in UC through inhibition of IL-6 expression.