Anti-inflammatory mechanism of oxymatrine in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis of rats

AIM: To investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of oxymatrine in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis of rats. METHODS: Acute colitis was induced by giving 2% DSS orally in drinking water for 8 d. Twenty-six male rats were randomized into oxymatrine-treated group (group A, 10 rats), DSS control (group B, 10 rats) and normal control (group C, 6 rats). The rats in group A were injected muscularly with oxymatrine at the dosage of 63 mg/(kg.d) from d 1 to 11 and drank 2% DSS solution from d 4 to 11. The rats in group B were treated with 0.9% saline in an equal volume as group A and drank 2% DSS solution from d 4 to 11. The rats in group C were treated with 0.9% saline as group B from d 1 to 11 and drank water normally. Diarrhea and bloody stool as well as colonic histology were observed. The levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined by ELISA, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity and the expression of inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in colonic mucosa were detected by immunohistochemistry method. RESULTS: Compared with DSS control group, the inflammatory symptoms and histological damages of colonic mucosa in oxymatrine-treated group were significantly improved, the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and the expression of NF-kappaB, ICAM-1 in colonic mucosa were significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: The fact that oxymatrine can reduce the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and the expression of NF-kappaB and ICAM-1 in colonic mucosa in DSS-induced colitis of rats indicates that oxymatrine may ameliorate the colonic inflammation and thus alleviate diarrhea and bloody stool.