title: Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of the Serpylli herba extract in experimental models of rodent colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nowadays, there is an increasing interest for alternative options in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) that combine efficacy and an adequate safety profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of Serpylli herba, the officinal drug in the European Pharmacopeia composed by the aerial parts of wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), were evaluated in the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse colitis, which are well characterized experimental models with some resemblance to human IBD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  S. herba extract exerted an intestinal anti-inflammatory effect in both experimental models of colitis, as evidenced both histologically, since it facilitated the tissue recovery of the damaged colon, and biochemically as showed by the improvement of the different inflammatory markers evaluated, including myeloperoxidase activity, glutathione content, and leukotriene B4 levels as well as the expression of the inducible proteins iNOS and COX-2. This beneficial effect was associated with the reduction in the expression of different cytokines, like TNFα, IL-1β, IFNγ, IL-6 and IL-17, the chemokine MCP-1, and the adhesion molecule ICAM-1, thus ameliorating the altered immune response associated with the colonic inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. herba extract displays an anti-inflammatory effect on different models of rodent colitis that could be attributed to its immunomodulatory properties.
authors.affiliation: CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Bio-Health Research of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Algieri
authors.affiliation: CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Bio-Health Research of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Nogales
authors.affiliation: CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Bio-Health Research of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Natividad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garrido-Mesa
authors.affiliation: CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Bio-Health Research of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zorrilla
authors.affiliation: PhytoLab GmbH & Co. KG, Dutendorfer Strasse 5-7, 91487 Vestenbergsgreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burkard
authors.affiliation: PhytoLab GmbH & Co. KG, Dutendorfer Strasse 5-7, 91487 Vestenbergsgreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pischel
authors.affiliation: PhytoLab GmbH & Co. KG, Dutendorfer Strasse 5-7, 91487 Vestenbergsgreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Hartwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sievers
authors.affiliation: PhytoLab GmbH & Co. KG, Dutendorfer Strasse 5-7, 91487 Vestenbergsgreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benedek
authors.affiliation: Finzelberg GmbH & Co. KG, Koblenzer Strasse 48-56, 56626 Andernach, Germany.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feistel
authors.affiliation: Finzelberg GmbH & Co. KG, Koblenzer Strasse 48-56, 56626 Andernach, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walbroel
authors.affiliation: CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Bio-Health Research of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: M Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Cabezas
authors.affiliation: CIBER-EHD, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Bio-Health Research of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. Electronic address: jgalvez@ugr.es.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galvez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D046930:Thymus Plant; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D016264:Dextran Sulfate
keywords: DSS mouse colitis;; Intestine anti-inflammatory activity; Serpylli herba;; TNBS rat colitis;; Thymus serpyllum;