Compound spleen-tonifying composition alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in rats

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Gastroenterology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with increasing global incidence.
• Current UC therapies have limitations, necessitating safer and more effective alternatives.
• Compound spleen-tonifying composition (CSTC), containing Pulsatilla chinensis and Glycyrrhiza uralensis, shows promise for UC treatment, but its mechanism requires elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic effects of CSTC on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in a rat model.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of CSTC's action in UC treatment.
• To evaluate the impact of different solvent extracts of CSTC on its bioactivity.

Main Methods:

• Ulcerative colitis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using 4% DSS solution.
• Therapeutic efficacy of CSTC and its solvent extracts was assessed via body weight changes, disease activity index (DAI), and colon histopathology.
• Biochemical markers of oxidative stress (SOD, MDA, MPO, GSH-px) and inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in colon tissue were quantified.

Main Results:

• DSS-induced UC rats exhibited weight loss, colon damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation, with reduced tight junction protein expression.
• CSTC treatment, particularly high and medium doses, significantly ameliorated UC symptoms and restored colon integrity.
• Polar extracts (ethyl acetate, n-butanol) of CSTC were more effective than nonpolar extracts, showing dose-dependent improvements in clinical and biochemical parameters.

Conclusions:

• CSTC exhibits multifaceted anti-UC effects by mitigating oxidative stress and modulating inflammatory cytokines.
• The therapeutic efficacy of CSTC extracts is dependent on their polarity, with polar fractions demonstrating significant bioactivity.
• These findings support CSTC as a potential therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis, warranting further investigation into its specific active compounds and mechanisms.