Open AccessPrenylated flavonoid morusin protects against TNBS-induced colitis in rats
Author(s) -
Zora Vochyánová,
Marie Pokorná,
Dominik Rotrekl,
Václav Smékal,
P. Fictum,
Pavel Suchý,
Jan Gajdziok,
Karel Šmejkal,
Jan Hošek
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0182464
Subject(s) - sulfasalazine , superoxide dismutase , pharmacology , catalase , flavonoid , matrix metalloproteinase , mmp2 , antioxidant , mmp9 , chemistry , medicine , ulcerative colitis , biochemistry , downregulation and upregulation , disease , gene
Morusin is a prenylated flavonoid isolated from the root bark of Morus alba . Many studies have shown the ability of flavonoids to act as anti-inflammatory agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of morusin on experimentally colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzensulfonic acid in Wistar rats and to compare it with sulfasalazine, a drug conventionally used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Morusin was administered by gavage at doses of 12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg/day for five days. The colonic tissue was evaluated macroscopically, histologically, and by performing immunodetection and zymographic analysis to determine the levels of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)], interleukin (IL)-1β, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and the activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9. The tissue damage scores were significantly reduced with increasing dose of morusin, however efficacy was not demonstrated at the highest dose. At the dose of 12.5 mg/kg, morusin exerted therapeutic effectivity similar to that of sulfasalazine (50 mg/kg). This was associated with significant reduction of TGF-β1 levels and MMP2 and MMP9 activities, and slight reduction of IL-1β. Our results suggest that morusin possesses therapeutic potential for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.