The beneficial effect of vanillic acid on ulcerative colitis.

Abstract

Vanillic acid, an oxidized form of vanillin, is a benzoic acid derivative used as a flavoring agent. The objective of this study was to determine whether vanillic acid has beneficial effects against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis. Our results showed that vanillic acid reduced the severity of the clinical signs of DSS-induced colitis, including weight loss and shortening of colon length, and the disease activity index. The results of this study showed that vanillic acid significantly suppressed the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and the activation of transcription nuclear factor-κB p65 in DSS-treated colon tissues. In addition, we observed that the plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6 were higher in the DSS-treated group than in the control group, but these increased levels were reduced by the administration of vanillic acid. Taken together, these findings suggest that vanillic acid has a beneficial effect on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis, thereby indicating its usefulness in the regulation of chronic intestinal inflammation.

• Authors: Su-Jin Kim, Min-Cheol Kim, Jae-Young Um, Seung-Heon Hong
• Journal: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (Molecules) Vol. 15 Issue 10 Pg. 7208-17 (Oct 19 2010) ISSN: 1420-3049 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 20959795 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-6
• Transcription Factor RelA
• Dextran Sulfate
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• Vanillic Acid

Topics

• Animals
• Colitis, Ulcerative (chemically induced, drug therapy, immunology, pathology)
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (metabolism)
• Dextran Sulfate (adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Inflammation (genetics, metabolism)
• Interleukin-6 (blood, immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Transcription Factor RelA (metabolism)
• Vanillic Acid (therapeutic use)