Modified Tou Nong Powder obstructs ulcerative colitis by regulating autophagy and mitochondrial function

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Cell Biology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Modified Tou Nong Powder (MTNP) is a traditional Chinese medicine used for ulcers.
• MTNP shows promise in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) due to similar ulcer characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate MTNP's mechanism in alleviating experimental colitis.
• To determine if MTNP induces autophagy via the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) pathway.

Main Methods:

• Induced UC in rats using TNBS and inflammation in Caco-2 cells with H2O2.
• Assessed therapeutic effects using disease activity index, visual and histological examination.
• Analyzed autophagy-related proteins and genes via Western blot and qPCR, and protein localization via immunofluorescence.

Main Results:

• MTNP reduced colonic injury, inflammation, and inflammatory factors in vivo.
• MTNP activated the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway, stimulating autophagy and mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction.
• MTNP-DS reduced reactive oxygen species, improved mitochondrial potential, and promoted mitochondrial autophagy in vitro.

Conclusions:

• MTNP alleviates UC by triggering autophagy and enhancing mitochondrial function.
• The therapeutic effects of MTNP are mediated by the activation of the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway.