title: Anti-inflammatory effects of Brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia paniculata) on TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation: Experimental evidence.
abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing, idiopathic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical studies suggest that the initiation of IBD is multifactorial, involving genetics, the immune system and environmental factors, such as diet, drugs and stress. Pfaffia paniculata is an adaptogenic medicinal plant used in Brazilian folk medicine as an "anti-stress" agent. Thus, we hypothesised that the P. paniculata enhances the response of animals subjected to colonic inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of P. paniculata in rats before or after induction of intestinal inflammation using trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). The animals were divided into groups that received the vehicle, prednisolone or P. paniculata extract daily starting 14 days before or 7 days after TNBS induction. At the end of the procedure, the animals were killed and their colons were assessed for the macroscopic damage score (MDS), extent of the lesion (EL) and weight/length ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and glutathione (GSH), cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Histological evaluation and ultrastructural analysis of the colonic samples were performed. Treatment with the 200mg/kg dose on the curative schedule was able to reduce the MDS and the EL. In addition, MPO activity was reduced, GSH levels were maintained, and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and CRP were decreased. In conclusion, the protective effect of P. paniculata was related to reduced oxidative stress and CRP colonic levels, and due to immunomodulatory activity as evidenced by reduced levels of IL-1β, INF-γ, TNF-α and IL-6.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology (PhytoPharmaTech), Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Unesp - Univ Estadual Paulista, P.O. Box 510, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: C A R A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology (PhytoPharmaTech), Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Unesp - Univ Estadual Paulista, P.O. Box 510, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanimoto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology (PhytoPharmaTech), Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Unesp - Univ Estadual Paulista, P.O. Box 510, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: A E V
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Quaglio
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology (PhytoPharmaTech), Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Unesp - Univ Estadual Paulista, P.O. Box 510, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology (PhytoPharmaTech), Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Unesp - Univ Estadual Paulista, P.O. Box 510, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Severi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Phytomedicines, Pharmacology and Biotechnology (PhytoPharmaTech), Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Unesp - Univ Estadual Paulista, P.O. Box 510, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: ldistasi@ibb.unesp.br.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Di Stasi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D005894:Panax; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D009195:Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Adaptogen; Hebanthe eriantha; Hebanthe paniculata; Inflammatory bowel disease; Pfaffia paniculata; Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid