title: A Chinese medicinal formulation ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis by suppressing the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB signaling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is generally associated with a set of debilitating symptoms including abdominal pain, tenesmus, diarrhea and bloody stool. The standard approaches for treating IBD, which are the application of pharmaceuticals, are often unsatisfactory. IBD patients may suffer from repeated relapses and even exacerbation after taking these medications. Thus, patients are increasingly seeking relief through the use of complementary and alternative medicines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide scientific ground for the mode of actions of a Chinese medicinal formulation-modified ZenWu Decoction (MZWD) in ulcerative colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL6 mice were fed with 3 cycles of 2% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for the induction of chronic colitis and then given MZWD at 17.47 g/kg/day. Effects of MZWD were evaluated by histopathological and biochemical assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When MZWD was given, inflammatory responses namely immune-cell infiltration, elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mucosal lesions were notably suppressed. Further, MZWD treatment attenuated the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), the vital regulator of inflammatory cascades, while lessening the degradation of I-kappaB-alpha and reducing the activity of protease-activated receptor 2 in DSS-induced colonic tissues. Consequently, diarrhea, bloody stool and colon shortening were reduced whilst mucosal integrity was improved in MZWD-treated colitis mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that MZWD is a potential remedy for treating IBD, and the mechanism of its efficacy is an anti-inflammatory effect associated with the suppression of the NF-κB pathway.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Siu Wai
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Siu Po
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Justin Che-Yuen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Siew-Chien
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Ken Kin-Lam
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Yung
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: bzxiang@hkbu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Zhao-Xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Bian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D016264:Dextran Sulfate
keywords: Bloody stool; Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS); Diarrhea; Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB); Ulcerative colitis (UC)