Troxerutin Improves Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Gastroenterology
• Drug Repurposing

Background:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with limited treatment options.
• Drug repurposing offers an efficient strategy to identify new therapeutic agents from existing medications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To screen existing clinical medications for potential ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment using bioinformatics and network pharmacology.
• To investigate the novel therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of troxerutin in a mouse model of UC.

Main Methods:

• Bioinformatics and network pharmacology were employed for drug screening.
• In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate troxerutin's efficacy in a UC mouse model.
• Analysis included assessment of oxidative stress markers, tight junction proteins, inflammatory mediators, cell apoptosis, and fibrosis.

Main Results:

• Troxerutin demonstrated significant improvement in a mouse model of UC.
• It reduced oxidative stress, maintained colon barrier function, and decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine expression.
• Troxerutin inhibited apoptosis and relieved colonic fibrosis, likely through network regulation of signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

• Troxerutin exhibits novel pharmacological activity for treating ulcerative colitis (UC).
• Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects protect the colon and improve barrier function.
• This finding supports troxerutin as a potential candidate for UC drug repurposing and expands the application of flavonoids in disease treatment.