Oxymatrine Improves TNBS-induced Colitis in Rats by Inhibiting the Expression of NF-κB p65

Author: FAN HENG ¹ ; CHEN RUI ; SHEN LIN ; LV JIANFANG ; XIONG PENGCHENG ; SHOU ZHEXING ; ZHUANG XIONG
Author Information

1. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
Keywords: colitis; oxymatrine; interleukin 2 (IL-2); interleukin 10 (IL-10); nuclear factor-κB p65
From: Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Medical Sciences) 2008;28(4):415-420
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease is thought to be regulated by the balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines secreted by T cells, and NF-κB p65 also plays a predominant role in the intestinal inflammation. We evaluated the potency of oxymatrine, one of active components of Sophora Root, in inhibiting the immune responses and inflammation in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced colitis. The inflammation was markedly ameliorated in the oxymatrine-treated rats.The level of IL-2 was increased and that of IL-10 was decreased in colon tissue in the rat model,which was reversed by the treatment of oxymatrine. Moreover, the elevated expression of NF-κB p65in colon tissue in the model was also improved by oxymatrine treatment. Our results suggest that oxymatrine might be beneficial for the abnormal immune responses and inflammation by regulating the unbalance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines secretion and inhibiting the expression of NF-κB p65 in colon tissue.