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Updated: Jul 23, 2026
09:04
DNBS/TNBS Colitis Models: Providing Insights Into Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Effects of Dietary Fat
Published on: February 27, 2014
Curcumin attenuates collagen-induced inflammatory response through the "gut-brain axis"
Yannong Dou1, Jinque Luo1, Xin Wu1
1Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing, 210009, China.
Journal of Neuroinflammation
|January 8, 2018
Summary
Curcumin treats arthritis by engaging the gut-brain axis. It modulates the cholinergic system, restoring nerve balance and reducing inflammation in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Pharmacology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Oral curcumin shows anti-arthritic effects but has poor bioavailability.
- The role of the gut-brain axis in curcumin's therapeutic action remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of the gut-brain axis in curcumin's anti-arthritic effects.
- To explore the mechanism of curcumin's action in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).
Main Methods:
- Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model.
- Vagotomy (VGX) and measurement of autonomic tone.
- Assessment of cholinergic system markers (ChAT, AChE) and cytokines.
- Analysis of gene and protein expression (CHT1, ChAT, VAChT).
- Electrophysiological recordings of vagus nerve activity.
Main Results:
- Curcumin restored sympathetic-parasympathetic balance in CIA rats.
- Curcumin increased cholinergic activity in the gut, brain, and synovium.
- Vagotomy abolished curcumin's therapeutic effects.
- Curcumin enhanced vagus nerve excitability and involved α7 nAChR.
Conclusions:
- Curcumin attenuates CIA via the gut-brain axis by modulating the cholinergic system.
- Findings suggest a novel mechanism for anti-arthritic compounds with poor bioavailability.
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