Chronic administration of Abarema cochliacarpos attenuates colonic inflammation in rats

Inflammatory bowel diseases are characterized by a chronic clinical course of relapse and remission associated with self-destructive inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Active extracts from plants have emerged as natural potential candidates for its treatment. Abarema cochliacarpos (Gomes) Barneby & Grimes, Fabaceae (Barbatimão), is a native medicinal plant in to Brazil. Previously we have demonstrated in an acute colitis model a marked protective effect of a butanolic extract, so we decided to assess its anti-inflammatory effect in a chronic ulcerative colitis model induced by trinitrobenzensulfonic acid (TNBS). Abarema cochliacarpos (150 mg/day, v.o.) was administered for fourteen consecutive days. This treatment decreased significantly macroscopic damage as compared with TNBS. Histological analysis showed that the extract improved the microscopic structure. Myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) was significantly decreased. Study of cytokines showed that TNF-α was diminished and IL-10 level was increased after Abarema cochliacarpos treatment. In order to elucidate inflammatory mechanisms, expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were studied showing a significant downregulation. In addition, there was reduction in the JNK and p-38 activation. Finally, IκB degradation was blocked by Abarema cochliacarpos treatment being consistent with an up-regulation of the NF-kappaB-binding activity. These results reinforce the anti-inflammatory effects described previously suggesting that Abarema cochliacarpos could provide a source for the search for new anti-inflammatory compounds useful in ulcerative colitis treatment.

Viral Transactivation of Transcription in Steroid Responsive Simple Nephrotic Syndrome Mediated by Nuclear Factor-Kappa B/Inhibitor Protein-Kappa B Signal Pathway / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the role of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-?B)/inhibitor protein-kappa B(I?B) signal pathway in viral transactivation of transcription in steroid responsive simple nephrotic syndrome(SRSNS).Methods Children with SRSNS(inclu-ding active stage and remissive stage) were examined,and were compared to children with nephritic nephrosis,secondary glomerular di-seases,bronchiolitis and healthy children.Electro-mobility shift assays,reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were used to detect the activity of NF-?B,the gene expression of respiratory tract viruses (including respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and the levels of viral antibody in plasma,respectively.The protein levels of I?B? and IL-8 were measured through Western blot and ELISA in SRSNS at active stage and healthy children.Results Compared with SRSNS at remissive stage and other groups,the activity of NF?B in SRSNS at active stage was much higher.And there was a positive linear correlation trend between the activity of NF-?B and the gene expression of respiratory tract viruses in SRSNS at active stage.With healthy children,the level of IL-8 in plasma from SRSNS at active stage was significantly increased.There was a positive correlation between the activity of NF?B and the level of IL-8(r=0.88 P