title: Clinical and structural effects of traditional Chinese medicine and the herbal preparation, Iberogast, in a rat model of ulcerative colitis.
abstract: Plant-sourced formulations such as Iberogast and the traditional Chinese medicine formulation, Cmed, purportedly possess anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging properties. We investigated Iberogast and Cmed, independently, for their potential to decrease the severity of the large bowel inflammatory disorder, ulcerative colitis. Sprague Dawley rats (n = 8/group) received daily 1 mL gavages (days 0-13) of water, Iberogast (100 μL/200 μL), or Cmed (10 mg/20 mg). Rats ingested 2% dextran sulfate sodium or water ad libitum for 7 days commencing on day 5. Dextran sulfate sodium administration increased disease activity index scores from days 6 to 12, compared with water controls (P < .05). On day 10, 200 μL Iberogast decreased disease activity index scores in colitic rats compared with colitic controls (P < .05). Neither Iberogast nor Cmed achieved statistical significance for daily metabolic parameters or colonic crypt depth. The therapeutic effects of Iberogast and Cmed were minimal in the colitis setting. Further studies of plant extracts are required investigating greater concentrations and alternative delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mashtoub
authors.forename: Bang V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lymn
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feinle-Bisset
authors.forename: Gordon S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Howarth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; C039964:iberogast
keywords: Iberogast; colitis; dextran sulfate sodium; herbal extracts; inflammatory bowel disease; rat; traditional Chinese medicine; ulcerative colitis