Anti-inflammatory intestinal activity of Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae) in TNBS colitis model.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: In Brazilian traditional medicine, Arctium lappa (Asteraceae), has been reported to relieve gastrointestinal symptoms.

Aim Of The Study: In the present study, we investigated the effects of the lactone sesquiterpene onopordopicrin enriched fraction (ONP fraction) from Arctium lappa in an experimental colitis model induced by 2,4,6 trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and performed experiments to elucidate the underlying action mechanisms involved in that effect.

Materials And Methods: ONP fraction (25 and 50 mg/kg/day) was orally administered 48, 24 and 1 h prior to the induction of colitis and 24 h after.

Rosiglitazone, a PPARgamma ligand, modulates signal transduction pathways during the development of acute TNBS-induced colitis in rats.

Recent studies have shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), a highly nuclear receptor expressed in the colon, may participate in the control of inflammation, especially in regulating the production of immunomodulatory and inflammatory mediators, cellular proliferation and apoptosis. In order to delve into the anti-inflammatory mechanisms and signalling pathways of PPARgamma agonists, we have studied the effects of rosiglitazone, a PPARgamma agonist on the extent and severity of acute ulcerative colitis caused by intracolonic administration of 2,4,6-trinitribenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in rats. The inflammatory response was assessed by gross appearance, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels and a histological study of the lesions.

The effects of resveratrol, a phytoalexin derived from red wines, on chronic inflammation induced in an experimentally induced colitis model.

Neutrophil infiltration, proinflammatory cytokines, eicosanoid generation and oxidative stress have been implicated in colitis. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and wine, with multiple pharmacological actions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumour and immunomodulatory activities. In a previous report, we documented that resveratrol decreases the degree of inflammation associated with acute experimental colonic inflammation, but its effects on chronic experimental colitis remain undetermined.

Rosiglitazone, an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, protects against gastric ischemia-reperfusion damage in rats: role of oxygen free radicals generation.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a nuclear hormone receptor super family that has recently been implicated in atherosclerosis, inflammation, cancer, infertility, and demyelination. Oxidative stress, neutrophil infiltration, proinflammatory cytokines, and the exhibition of luminal acid play a role in the pathogenesis of gastric injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion. Rosiglitazone, a specific PPAR-gamma ligand, has been shown to have antiinflammatory activity, but its effects on experimental ischemia-reperfusion gastric injury remain unknown.

Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in grapes, suppresses oxidative damage and stimulates apoptosis during early colonic inflammation in rats.

Oxidative stress, neutrophil infiltration, proinflammatory cytokines and eicosanoid generation are clearly involved in the pathogenesis of intestinal bowel disease. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and wine, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumour and immunomodulatory activities, however, its effects on experimental colitis remain unknown. We have investigated the effects of resveratrol on the colon injury caused by intracolonic instillation of trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) in rats.

The cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, attenuates mucosal damage due to colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid in rats.

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 overexpression has been described in experimental colitis. However, there are controversial findings suggesting that its inhibition by selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors not only may have a beneficial effect on experimental colitis, but also exacerbate the inflammation-associated colonic injury. Thus, the role of cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors in the possible modulation of colon inflammation is controversial and remains uncertain.