title: The natural plant product tryptanthrin ameliorates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice.
abstract: The therapeutic effects of tryptanthrin (TRYP), a natural product from the medicinal plant Polygonum tinctorium, were examined in a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Colitis was induced by 5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water for 7 days from day 0. TRYP (100 mg/kg) was administered orally suspended in 5% arabia gum everyday from day 3 for 5 days. Histopathological analysis showed reduced colon damage in TRYP-treated mice on day 6; however, colon injury resumed after treatment was stopped. The production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) by untreated and treated mouse colon tissues cultured in vitro were mostly unchanged by TRYP treatment. However, mitogen-stimulated spleen cells from TRYP-treated colitic mice produced less interleukin 2 (IL-2) and less interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) than untreated colitic mouse spleen cells, early after induction of colitis. When colitis was induced with 5% DSS for 7 days and TRYP was given to the mice for 8 days from day 3, TRYP enhanced the survival of the mice but results were not significant. A significant reduction of weight loss was observed in TRYP-treated mice with colitis induced by 5% DSS for 4 days as compared to control mice. Remarkably, whereas 90% of the vehicle-treated mice died from wasting disease, all the TRYP-treated mice survived, suggesting that TRYP may have a therapeutic effect on colitis.
authors.affiliation: Fujisaki Institute, Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories Inc, Okayama, Japan. fujisaki@hayashibara.co.jp
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Micallef
authors.forename: Kanso
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwaki
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Shimpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ushio
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aga
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunikata
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koya-Miyata
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimoto
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028502:Polygonum / Q000737:chemistry; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008934:Mitogens; D011799:Quinazolines; C046243:tryptanthrine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D015232:Dinoprostone