title: Embelin ameliorates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice.
abstract: Embelin has been used to treat fever, inflammatory diseases, and a variety of gastrointestinal ailments for thousands of years. Although reports indicate that embelin has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects, its effects on ulcerative colitis have not been previously explored. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of embelin on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Experimental colitis was induced in BALB/c mice by dissolving 5% DSS in their drinking water for 7days. Embelin (10, 30 or 50mg/kg body weight) was administrated daily per oral route for 7days. Embelin significantly attenuated DSS-induced DAI scores and tissue MPO accumulation, which implied that it suppressed weight loss, diarrhea, gross bleeding, and the infiltrations of immune cells. Embelin administration also effectively and dose-dependently prevented shortening of colon length and enlargement of spleen size. Histological examinations indicated that embelin suppressed edema, mucosal damage, and the loss of crypts induced by DSS. Furthermore, embelin inhibited the abnormal secretions and mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. These results suggest that embelin has an anti-inflammatory effect at colorectal sites that is due to the down-regulations of the productions and expressions of inflammatory mediators, and that it may have therapeutic value in the setting of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Research Center, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Presidency College, Chennai, India. kalyanmicro@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kalyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumar G
authors.lastname: Dhamotharan R
authors.forename: Nagaraj M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: Srinivasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honnegowda
authors.lastname: Murugesan S
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D005638:Fruit; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D029623:Primulaceae / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016227:Benzoquinones; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D009195:Peroxidase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C010945:embelin