The natural plant product tryptanthrin ameliorates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice

Int Immunopharmacol. 2002 Mar;2(4):565-78. doi: 10.1016/s1567-5769(01)00206-5.

Abstract

The therapeutic effects of tryptanthrin (TRYP), a natural product from the medicinal plant Polygonum tinctorium, were examined in a murine model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Colitis was induced by 5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water for 7 days from day 0. TRYP (100 mg/kg) was administered orally suspended in 5% arabia gum everyday from day 3 for 5 days. Histopathological analysis showed reduced colon damage in TRYP-treated mice on day 6; however, colon injury resumed after treatment was stopped. The production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) by untreated and treated mouse colon tissues cultured in vitro were mostly unchanged by TRYP treatment. However, mitogen-stimulated spleen cells from TRYP-treated colitic mice produced less interleukin 2 (IL-2) and less interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) than untreated colitic mouse spleen cells, early after induction of colitis. When colitis was induced with 5% DSS for 7 days and TRYP was given to the mice for 8 days from day 3, TRYP enhanced the survival of the mice but results were not significant. A significant reduction of weight loss was observed in TRYP-treated mice with colitis induced by 5% DSS for 4 days as compared to control mice. Remarkably, whereas 90% of the vehicle-treated mice died from wasting disease, all the TRYP-treated mice survived, suggesting that TRYP may have a therapeutic effect on colitis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Factors / therapeutic use
  • Colitis / chemically induced*
  • Colitis / drug therapy*
  • Colitis / metabolism
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Colon / drug effects
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Colon / pathology
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Dextran Sulfate / pharmacology*
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitogens / immunology
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Polygonum / chemistry
  • Quinazolines / therapeutic use*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Biological Factors
  • Cytokines
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Mitogens
  • Quinazolines
  • tryptanthrine
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Dinoprostone