Tussilagone, a major active component in Tussilago farfara, ameliorates inflammatory responses in dextran sulphate sodium-induced murine colitis

Chem Biol Interact. 2018 Oct 1:294:74-80. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.08.022. Epub 2018 Aug 22.

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Current IBD treatments are associated with poor tolerability and insufficient therapeutic efficacy, prompting the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Recent advances suggest promising interventions based on a number of phytochemicals. Herein, we explored the beneficial effects of tussilagone, a major component of Tussilago farfara, in mice subjected to acute colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Treatment with tussilagone resulted in a significant protective effect against DSS-induced acute colitis in mice via amelioration of weight loss, and attenuation of colonic inflammatory damage. Additionally, the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 and the activity of myeloperoxidase in colonic tissues were significantly reduced in tussilagone-treated mice. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that tussilagone treatment reduced the numbers of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and increased the numbers of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in nuclei of colonic tissues. Taken together, tussilagone treatment attenuated DSS-induced colitis in mice through inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and inducing Nrf2 pathways, indicating that tussilagone is a potent therapeutic candidate for treatment of intestinal inflammation.

Keywords: Heme oxygenase-1; Inflammatory bowel disease; NF-κB; Nrf2; Tussilagone.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colitis / chemically induced
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Colitis / prevention & control*
  • Colon / drug effects
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Dextran Sulfate / toxicity
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology
  • Sesquiterpenes / therapeutic use*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Tussilago / chemistry*
  • Tussilago / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • NF-kappa B
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • tussilagone
  • Peroxidase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Heme Oxygenase-1