Unveiling the anti-inflammatory potential of 11β,13-dihydrolactucin for application in inflammatory bowel disease management

Food Funct. 2024 Sep 16;15(18):9254-9271. doi: 10.1039/d4fo01446d.

Abstract

Management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses significant challenges, and there is a need for innovative therapeutic approaches. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory properties of the dietary sesquiterpene lactone (SL) 11β,13-dihydrolactucin, which can be found in chicory, in three distinct complementary models of intestinal inflammation (two cell models and a zebrafish model), offering comprehensive insights into its potential application for IBD treatment alternatives. In a triple cell co-culture composed of Caco-2, HT29-MTX-E12, and Raji B, 11β,13-dihydrolactucin demonstrated remarkable anti-inflammatory activity at several levels of the cellular inflammatory response. Notably, 11β,13-dihydrolactucin prevented the activation of critical signalling pathways associated with inflammation, namely NF-κB and MAPK p38. This SL also decreased the release of the neutrophil-recruiting chemokine IL-8. Additionally, the compound reduced the gene expression of IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as the gene and protein expression of the inflammatory inducible enzymes iNOS and COX-2. In a myofibroblast-like human cell model, 11β,13-dihydrolactucin decreased the release of the cytokine TNF-α and the COX-2-derived inflammation mediator PGE2. Finally, in a zebrafish model of gut inflammation, 11β,13-dihydrolactucin effectively reduced neutrophil infiltration, further supporting its anti-inflammatory efficacy in a physiological context. Collectively, our findings highlight the promising anti-inflammatory potential of 11β,13-dihydrolactucin across various facets of intestinal inflammation, providing a foundation for the consideration of chicory as a promising candidate for incorporation in food or nutraceutical products for the potential prevention of IBD.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents* / pharmacology
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cichorium intybus / chemistry
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-8 / genetics
  • Interleukin-8 / metabolism
  • Lactones / pharmacology
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Sesquiterpenes* / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Zebrafish*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • NF-kappa B
  • Lactones
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8