It has been shown that the extracts including
eupatilin and quercetin-3-β-D-glucuronopyranoside had mucoprotective effects on the esophagus and stomach through their
antioxidant activities. This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of these
flavonoid compounds in an animal model of
inflammatory bowel disease induced by
2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Experimental
colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of
2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Extracts including
eupatilin or quercetin-3-β-D-glucuronopyranoside were orally administered to animals 48, 24, and 1 h prior to the induction of
colitis and then again 24 h later. The animals were sacrificed 48 h after by
2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid treatment and the macroscopic appearance of the colonic lesions was scored in a blinded manner on a scale of 1 to 10. The inflammatory response to
colitis induction was assessed by measuring
myeloperoxidase activity,
nitric oxide production,
tumor necrosis factor-α expression, total
glutathione levels, and
malondialdehyde concentrations in the colon. The results indicated that extracts including
eupatilin and extracts including quercetin-3-β-D-glucuronopyranoside dose-dependently improved the morphology of the lesions induced by
2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and reduced the
ulcer index accordingly. In addition, rats receiving extracts including
eupatilin and extracts including quercetin-3-β-D-glucuronopyranoside showed significantly decreased levels of mucosal
myeloperoxidase activity,
nitric oxide production,
tumor necrosis factor-α expression, and
malondialdehyde levels, and increased total
glutathione levels. Extracts including
eupatilin and extracts including quercetin-3-β-D-glucuronopyranoside ameliorated the inflammatory response and colonic injury in acute
colitis by decreasing oxidative stress and neutrophil activation. Extracts including
eupatilin and extracts including quercetin-3-β-D-glucuronopyranoside may inhibit acute
colitis.