Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of the Serpylli herba extract in experimental models of rodent colitis.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Nowadays, there is an increasing interest for alternative options in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) that combine efficacy and an adequate safety profile.

METHODS:

The intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of Serpylli herba, the officinal drug in the European Pharmacopeia composed by the aerial parts of wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), were evaluated in the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse colitis, which are well characterized experimental models with some resemblance to human IBD.

RESULTS:

S. herba extract exerted an intestinal anti-inflammatory effect in both experimental models of colitis, as evidenced both histologically, since it facilitated the tissue recovery of the damaged colon, and biochemically as showed by the improvement of the different inflammatory markers evaluated, including myeloperoxidase activity, glutathione content, and leukotriene B4 levels as well as the expression of the inducible proteins iNOS and COX-2. This beneficial effect was associated with the reduction in the expression of different cytokines, like TNFα, IL-1β, IFNγ, IL-6 and IL-17, the chemokine MCP-1, and the adhesion molecule ICAM-1, thus ameliorating the altered immune response associated with the colonic inflammation.

CONCLUSION:

S. herba extract displays an anti-inflammatory effect on different models of rodent colitis that could be attributed to its immunomodulatory properties.

• Authors: Francesca Algieri, Alba Rodriguez-Nogales, Natividad Garrido-Mesa, Pedro Zorrilla, Natalie Burkard, Ivo Pischel, Hartwig Sievers, Birgit Benedek, Björn Feistel, Bernd Walbroel, M Elena Rodriguez-Cabezas, Julio Galvez
• Journal: Journal of Crohn's & colitis (J Crohns Colitis) Vol. 8 Issue 8 Pg. 775-88 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1876-4479 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24411672 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Plant Extracts
• Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
• Dextran Sulfate

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Colitis (chemically induced, drug therapy, pathology)
• Colon (drug effects, pathology)
• Dextran Sulfate (pharmacology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Plant Extracts (therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Thymus Plant
• Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid (pharmacology)