Anti-inflammatory effects of kudingcha methanol extract (Ilex kudingcha CJ Tseng) in dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis

The present study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Ilex kudingcha C.J. Tseng methanol extracts (KME) on 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice (C57BL/6J strain). Body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, colon weight to length ratio, colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. Histological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Colonic levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin(IL)-1 beta and IL-6 were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, -6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the colon tissue, was quantified by RT-PCR. KME significantly suppressed DSS-induced body weight loss, colon length shortening and decreased the colon weight to length ratio. It also resulted in increased GSH and reduced MPO and MDA levels in the colon tissue. Histological observation suggested that KME prevented edema, mucosal damage and loss of crypts, which are induced by DSS. In addition, KME decreased the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and -6 in the colon tissues, while inhibiting the mRNA expression of these cytokines, as well as iNOS and COX-2. The results of this study suggested that KME has anti-inflammatory effects on DSS-induced UC in mice (C57BL/6J strain) by reducing the colonic levels and inhibiting the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.