Therapeutic effects of Baizhu Huanglian Decoction on ulcerative colitis in rats / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the therapeutic effects of Baizhu Huanglian Decoction on rats with ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Methods SD rats were used to make rat UC model by TNBS enema. A total of 74 rats were divided into 6 groups with half of each group being male. Model group had 14 rats, and Baizhu Huanglian Decoction low-, middle- and high-dose groups, control group and sulfasalazine group had 12 rats in each group. One rat in the model group and one in the sulfasalazine group were dead on the 2nd day of modeling. After modeling, the rats of Baizhu Huanglian Decoction low-, middle- and high-dose group were intragastrically given (2 times a day, each time with 2 mL) Baizhu Huanglian Decoction of 6.895, 13.790 and 27.580 g/kg, respectively. Sulfasalazine group was given sulfasalazine suspension by gavage 0.2 g/kg (2 times a day, each time with 2 mL) and model group was given the same amount of normal saline after modeling. Normal control group was always given normal saline. After 10 days of continuous administration, the body mass and fecal characteristics of the rats were observed. At the end of the administration, the colonic pathological changes of colon and the length of colorectal were measured. The colon pathology and colon mucosal injury index (CMDI) score were evaluated. The levels of nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by ELISA. Results Compared with the model group, the body mass of the rats were significantly increased on the 4th-10th day after administration in the Baizhu Huanliang Decoction low-, middle- and high-dose groups and sulfasalazine group (all P0.05), which had no significant difference versus normal control group. Fecal characteristic scores of the Baizhu Huanglian Decoction high-dose groups and the sulfasalazine group were lower than those of the model group and the Baizhu Huanglian Decoction middle- and low-dose groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. Compared with the model group, the colorectal lengths of the rats were significantly longer in Baizhu Huanglian Decoction middle- and high-dose groups and sulfasalzine group (all P0.05). The colon pathology scores were significantly lower in the Baizhu Huanglian Decoction low-, middle- and high-dose group, and sulfasalazine group versus the model group (all P0.05). CMDI scores of Baizhu Huanglian Decoction high-dose group and sulfasalazine group were significantly lower than those of the model group (both P0.05). The levels of NO, iNOS, MPO and IL-6 of the rat colonic tissues were significantly lower in Baizhu Huanliang Decoction low-, middle- and high-dose groups, and sulfasalazine group than those in the model group (all P0.05). Conclusion Baizhu Huanglian Decoction can improve the general condition and colonic lesions of rats with UC, decreasing the levels of NO, iNOS, MPO and IL-6 and reducing the inflammation.