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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1484532

Protective effect of Huanglian Pingwei San on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice through amelioration of the inflammatory response and oxidative stress

Provisionally accepted
Gengting Dong Gengting Dong Xiaoyan Pang Xiaoyan Pang Ximin Wang Ximin Wang Lin Peng Lin Peng Qili Xiao Qili Xiao Shunan Guo Shunan Guo Weibo Dai Weibo Dai *
  • Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) results in the breakdown of the mucosal barrier caused by persistent inflammation and oxidative stress. Huanglian Pingwei San (HLPWS) is a commonly prescribed traditional Chinese medicine for treating colitis, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the protective effect of HLPWS on UC mice and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved. Materials : UC mouse model was established in C57BL/6 mice via 2.25% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The chemical composition of HLPWS was examined through UPLC/MS Q-TOF analysis. The efficacy of HLPWS in treating UC was assessed. A TUNEL assay was used to detect apoptotic cells. An ELISA was used to evaluate the levels of inflammatory cytokines in colon tissues and serum. The percentages of Treg and Th17 cells were measured via flow cytometry. The protein expression in the colonic tissue was validated via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting. Results: HLPWS significantly improved UC symptoms and colon tissue histology in mice. The structure and function of the intestinal barrier were restored by HLPWS treatment, as shown by increased DAO content, reduced levels of FITC-dextran, and increased protein expression of ZO-1, occludin, claudin, and MUC2. HLPWS dose-dependently decreased the number of apoptotic cells by inhibiting P53, P21, P27, cleaved caspase 3, and p-H2AX expression. HLPWS also reduced abnormal oxidative stress by reducing Keap1 expression and increasing Nrf2 and HO-1 levels. Furthermore, HLPWS rebalanced the Treg/Th17 ratio to alleviated inflammatory reactions in UC mice.Conclusions: These findings suggest that HLPWS alleviated colonic intestinal barrier dysfunction in UC mice by reducing oxidative stress and restoring immune balance. This study underscores the potential therapeutic benefits of HLPWS and highlights its potential as a future pharmaceutical candidate for UC treatment.

    Keywords: Huanglian Pingwei San, ulcerative colitis, intestinal barrier, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress

    Received: 22 Aug 2024; Accepted: 12 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Dong, Pang, Wang, Peng, Xiao, Guo and Dai. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Weibo Dai, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.