RESULTS:
Isoliquiritin treatment significantly attenuated shortened colon length (induced by TNBS), disease activity index (DAI) score, and
body weight loss in rats. A decrease in the levels of inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, I IL-4, L-6, IL-10,
PGE2, and TNF-α), coupled with
malondialdehyde (MDA) and
superoxide dismutase (SOD), was observed in colon tissue and serum of rats after they have received
isoliquiritin. Results of techniques (like western blotting, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence-IF) demonstrated the potential of
isoliquiritin to decrease expressions of key genes in the TLR4 downstream pathways, viz., MyD88, IRAK1,
TRAF6, NF-κB, p38, and JNK at
mRNA and
protein levels as well as inhibit
HMGB1 expression, which is the upstream
ligand of TLR4. Bioinformational analysis showed
enteritis to be associated with a high expression of
HMGB1, TLR4, and
caspase-3.
CONCLUSION: