The beneficial effect of vanillic acid on ulcerative colitis.
Vanillic acid, an oxidized form of vanillin, is a benzoic acid derivative used as a flavoring agent. The objective of this study was to determine whether vanillic acid has beneficial effects against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis. Our results showed that vanillic acid reduced the severity of the clinical signs of DSS-induced colitis, including weight loss and shortening of colon length, and the disease activity index. The results of this study showed that vanillic acid significantly suppressed the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and the activation of transcription nuclear factor-κB p65 in DSS-treated colon tissues. In addition, we observed that the plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6 were higher in the DSS-treated group than in the control group, but these increased levels were reduced by the administration of vanillic acid. Taken together, these findings suggest that vanillic acid has a beneficial effect on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis, thereby indicating its usefulness in the regulation of chronic intestinal inflammation.
Department of Pharmacology, College of Oriental Medicine, Institute of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, Korea. ksj1009@khu.ac.kr
Su-Jin
SJ
Kim
Min-Cheol
MC
Kim
Jae-Young
JY
Um
Seung-Heon
SH
Hong
D000818:Animals; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D014641:Vanillic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D014641:Vanillic Acid