NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways contribute to the protective effect of Licochalcone A on dextran sulphate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice.

Abstract

Licochalcone A (Lico A) is a characteristic chalcone isolated from licorice root which is widely recognized in traditional Chinese medicine for the ability of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-parasitic and anti-cancer. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of Lico A on dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in a mouse model which was induced by administration of 3% DSS in drinking water. Mice were then treated with Lico A (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, p.o.) or 0.9% saline (20 ml/kg, p.o.) for 17 days. The results showed that treatment with Lico A significantly reduced the colon length, histological damage scores, and colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in a dose-dependent manner as compared to the UC control group. Besides, Lico A significantly decreased the oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines, downregulated nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and upregulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Collectively, Lico A is effective in alleviating DSS-induced colitis in mice and the mechanism is associated with its inhibition of NF-κB-regulated pro-inflammatory signaling and activation of Nrf2-regulated cytoprotective protein expression.

• Authors: Dongyu Liu, Xiaowei Huo, Li Gao, Juan Zhang, Hui Ni, Li Cao
• Journal: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (Biomed Pharmacother) Vol. 102 Pg. 922-929 (Jun 2018) ISSN: 1950-6007 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 29710547 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Antioxidants
• Biomarkers
• Chalcones
• Cytokines
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2
• NF-kappa B
• Protective Agents
• Dextran Sulfate
• Peroxidase
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• licochalcone A

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (chemistry, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Antioxidants (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Chalcones (chemistry, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Colitis, Ulcerative (chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Colon (drug effects, enzymology, pathology)
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (metabolism)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Dextran Sulfate
• Male
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Models, Biological
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2 (metabolism)
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Peroxidase (metabolism)
• Protective Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)