Suppressive effect of berberine on experimental dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.

Abstract

The anti-inflammatory effect of berberine was evaluated in murine model of acute experimental colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Berberine, given orally at 40, 20, 10 mg/kg for 10 days, ameliorated all the supposed inflammatory symptoms of the induced colitis, such as body weightloss, blood hemoglobin reduction, high myeloperoxidase levels, and malondialdehyde content-inflamed mucosa. Furthermore, the cytokine production of splenic lymphocytes was analyzed. The results showed the IFN-γ and IL-12 were increased, but IL-4 and IL-10 were decreased in DSS-induced colitis,when those were compared with the normal control. But the administration of berberine to DSS-induced colitis mice showed lower production of IFN-γ and IL-12 and higher production of IL-4 and IL-10 than the DSS-induced colitis mice. The results suggest that the protective effects of berberine against the DSS-induced colitis may be associated with the regulation of cytokine production.

• Authors: Tie Hong, Zhen Yang, Chuan-Feng Lv, Yu Zhang
• Journal: Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology (Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol) Vol. 34 Issue 3 Pg. 391-7 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1532-2513 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22564173 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Cytokines
• Berberine
• Dextran Sulfate

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (pharmacology)
• Berberine (pharmacology)
• Colitis (blood, chemically induced, drug therapy, immunology)
• Cytokines (blood, immunology)
• Dextran Sulfate (toxicity)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C