Protective effects of aqueous extract of Cimicifugae Rhizoma on intestinal mucosa of ulcerative colitis mice
10.3969/j.issn.1001-1528.2025.07.013
- VernacularTitle:升麻水提物对溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠黏膜的保护作用
- Author:
Zhi-hua LI
1
;
Qing LUO
;
Xi-min WANG
;
Shu-nan GUO
;
Wei-bo DAI
Author Information
1. 广州中医药大学附属中山中医院,广东 中山 528400
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
aqueous extract of Cimicifugae Rhizoma;
ulcerative colitis;
pyroptosis;
intestinal mucosal barrier;
inflammatory reaction;
Nrf2/HO-1 pathway;
NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway
- From:
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine
2025;47(7):2221-2228
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIM To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of aqueous extract of Cimicifugae Rhizoma on intestinal mucosa in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis(UC).METHODS The UC mouse models established by sodium dextran sulfate were allocated into different groups and administered with sulfasalazine(200 mg/kg)or aqueous extract of Cimicifugae Rhizoma(3.9,7.8 g/kg)by gavage,respectively.The mice had their changes of body weight,defecation patterns,disease activity index(DAI)and colon length recorded;their colon tissue pathological alterations and goblet cell quantification analyzed through HE and AB-PAS staining;their ROS levels in colon tissue measured via ELISA;their mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines,Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway components and NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway regulators in colon tissue assessed by RT-qPCR;their protein expressions of Nrf2/HO-1 and NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway verified by immunohistochemistry;and their ZO1 and Occludin tight junction proteins in colon tissues quantified by Western blot analysis.RESULTS Compared to the model group,the high-dose Cimicifugae Rhizoma aqueous extract group demonstrated significantly increased body weight,colon length and DAI scores(P＜0.01);mitigated intestinal mucosal barrier damage;reduced ROS levels in colon tissue(P＜0.01);suppressed mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in colon(P＜0.01);elevated expressions of tight junction protein ZO1 and Occludin in colon tissue(P＜0.05);upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2,NQO1 and HO-1 in colon tissue(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of Keap1(P＜0.05);and reduced expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome components(ASC,Caspase-1,GSDMD)in mRNA and protein(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION The aqueous extract of Cimicifugae Rhizoma exerts protective effects against UC through dual mechanisms involving redox regulation and pyroptosis inhibition by reducing ROS level via Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation and attenuating NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis via Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway inhibition,and thereby synergistically preserves the structural and functional integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier and mitigates UC progression.
