Vanillin improves and prevents trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in mice.

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is chronic inflammatory and relapsing disease of the gut. It has been known that activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and production of proinflammatory cytokines play important roles in the pathogenesis of IBD. In this study, the effect of vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde), a potent nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibitor, was evaluated in mice with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. Oral administration of vanillin improved macroscopic and histological features of TNBS-induced colitis in a dose-dependent manner. Vanillin not only prevented TNBS-induced colitis but also ameliorated the established colitis. By in vivo NF-kappaB bioluminescence imaging, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and Western blot, we found that vanillin suppressed in vivo NF-kappaB activities through the inhibition of p65 translocation, inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB(IkappaB)-alpha phosphorylation, and IkappaB kinase activation. Furthermore, vanillin reduced the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha] and stimulated the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4) in colonic tissues. In conclusion, this work identified vanillin as an anti-inflammatory compound with the capacity to prevent and ameliorate TNBS-induced colitis. Due to its safety, vanillin could be a potent candidate for the treatment of IBD.

• Authors: Shih-Lu Wu, Jaw-Chyun Chen, Chia-Cheng Li, Hsin-Yi Lo, Tin-Yun Ho, Chien-Yun Hsiang
• Journal: The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics (J Pharmacol Exp Ther) Vol. 330 Issue 2 Pg. 370-6 (Aug 2009) ISSN: 1521-0103 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19423842 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Benzaldehydes
• Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
• vanillin

Topics

• Animals
• Benzaldehydes (therapeutic use)
• Colitis (chemically induced, pathology, prevention & control)
• Female
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Transgenic
• Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid (toxicity)