This study investigated the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JSA22-fermented rice drinks on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Twenty-four mice were randomly assigned; No colitis (Con), colitis with tap water (DSS-only), colitis with unfermented rice (DSS-UFR), and colitis with fermented rice (DSS-FR). After inducing colitis with 2% DSS for 5 days, they were given Tap water, UFR drink, or FR drink for an additional 6 days. The DSS-FR group had significantly lower Disease Activity Index (DAI) scores compared to the DSS-only group, but no significant difference with the DSS-UFR group. Colon length was reduced in the DSS-only group. The DSS-only group had significantly higher IL-6 mRNA levels compared to the Con group, while the DSS-FR groups showed significantly lower IL-6 mRNA levels compared to the DSS-only group. These results suggest that rice drinks fermented with Lactiplantibacillus Plantarum JSA22 ameliorate the severity of DSS-colitis, by potentially reducing proinflammatory cytokines.

This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Auricularia auricula-judae ethanol extract (AEE) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis mice. The highest levels of total polyphenols and DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed in AEE. Also, NO production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). AEE was suspended in distilled water and administration per oral at different doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight every day with 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. The sample AEE 100 and 300 mg/kg significantly increased body weight, colon length and decreased disease activity index (DAI) score. Histological features showed that 100 and 300 mg/kg of AEE suppressed edema, mucosal damage and the loss of crypts induced by DSS. The serum levels of TNF- and IL-6 were measured in acute colitis mice using ELISA kits. Levels of TNF- and IL-6 in serum were significantly decreased by topical application of AEE. Therefore, AEE increases antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and it is thought that it can effectively help prevent colitis.

Colorectal cancer causes the most cancer-associated death worldwide, having a high cancer incidence. Pectin is a complex polysaccharide present in various fruits, emerging as an anti-carcinogenic candidate. Although pectin has a suppressive capacity for colon carcinogenesis, the effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and colonic aberrant foci formation in the colon carcinogenesis mouse model remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigates the regulatory effect of pectin supplementation on colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mice. In an animal experiment, thirty male institute for cancer research (ICR) mice were divided into two experimental groups; AOM/DSS (control group) and AOM/DSS + pectin (5% in drinking water). Furthermore, the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypt (AC) on colonic mucosa were counted, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) assay was performed to estimate lipid peroxidation in feces. Pectin treatment significantly decreased the number of ACF and AC per colon compared with the control. Additionally, fecal TBARS level in the pectin group was significantly lower than those in the control group. Conclusively, these findings indicate that pectin-inhibited hyperplastic alteration and oxidative stress suppress colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon and rectum with intervals of acute exacerbation. Its etiology remains unknown, although recent studies suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines initiate the inflammatory responses. In this study, we investigated the ameliorative effects of YB-21 (new product containining Lactobacillus plantarum, Barley Bran and Nymphaeaceae) in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The experimental groups were divided into 6 groups (n = 10) of ICR mice: normal control(NC), DSS-treated(PC, positive control), DSS+latic-L-treated (3×107CFU/ml), DSS+latic-M-treated (3×109CFU/ml), DSS+latic-H-treated (3×1011CFU/ml), and DSS+YB-21-treated. Histological examinations indicated that YB-21 suppressed edema, mucosal damage, and the loss of crypts induced by DSS. Moreover, YB-21 reduced serum level expressions of, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). These results suggest that YB-21 has an anti-colitic effect by the suppression of intestinal inflammatory responses in DSS-induced colitis in mice.

염증성 장질환은 장관 내 비정상적인 만성 염증이 호전과 재발을 반복하는 질환으로 아직까지 명확한 발병기전은 밝혀져 있지 않다. 그 중 궤양성 대장염은 염증 및 혈변, 설사 심한 경우에는 발열을 동반한다. 현재 치료제로는 설파살라진, 메살라민과 같은 항염 증제, 항생제 등을 사용하고 있지만, 부작용으로 두통, 빈혈 등의 있고 드물게는 간염, 폐렴 등이 유발되기 때문에 보다 안전한 방법이 요구되는 실정이다. 본 실험은 5주령의 수컷 마우스를 일주일간 적응기간 후, CON군 DSS군, 저농도군, 중농도군으로 나누었다. CON군을 제외한 모든 군에 DSS를 일주일간 투여해 장염을 유발한 후 2주간 WK-20을 투여한 후 검사를 한 결과 저농도, 중농도군에서 대장염의 증상이 유의적으로 완화된 것으로 보였다. 따라서, WK-20은 DSS를 통해 유발되는 대장염에서 치료적 효과를 보이지만 MTT 검사를 통해 농도의 조절이 필요한 것으로 사료된다.

This study observed the anti-inflammatory effect of the polysaccharide derived from the mycelium of Tremella fuciformis in mice with colitis induced with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The experimental groups were normal, DSS, DSS-TFL50, DSS-TFH100, and suflasalazine. Body weights, colon lengths, and organ weights were measured, and the plasma level of pro-inflammatory cytokine and mRNA and protein expression in colon tissue were analyzed. Body weight loss, a symptom of DSS-induced colitis, was suppressed by DSS-TF and the speed of weight recovery proceeded rapidly. In addition, DSS-TF showed a significant inhibitory effect on the decrease of colon length typically caused by colon damage. TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β cytokine levels in plasma were reduced in DSS-TF and positive control groups. TNF-α, COX-2 and IL-1β mRNA expression in colon tissue were inhibited in DSS-TF and positive control, and it was significantly different from that of the DSS group. The protein expression of inflammation-related genes (IL-6, TNF-α and COX-2) in the colon tissue was significantly increased by DSS compared to that of the normal group, but by DSS-TFL50, DSS-TFH100 and sulfasalarin decreased. In conclusion, the polysaccharide derived from the mycelium of Tremella fuciformis showed the anti-inflammatory effect on DSS-induced colitis in mice.

Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) is known to be associated with the long-term administration of antibiotics, which alter normal gastrointestinal flora and allow overgrowth of Clostridium difficile. However, antituberculosis agents are rarely reported as a cause of this disease. Besides, most cases of antituberculosis agent-induced PMC have been observed in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis but not with tuberculous meningitis. This report presents a case of PMC associated with antituberculosis therapy in a patient with tuberculous meningitis. A 29-year-old female patient was admitted due to headaches and diplopia that had lasted for 2 weeks. She had not recently received antimicrobial therapy. She was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis by cerebrospinal fluid findings and neurologic examination, including brain imaging study. She was treated with standard antituberculosis agents (HERZ regimen: isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide). After 11 days of HERZ, she developed a fever, sudden widespread skin eruption, and elevation of liver enzymes. Considering adverse drug reactions, antituberculosis agents were stopped. One week later, her symptoms were relieved. Thus, antituberculosis agents were reintroduced one at a time after liver function returned to normal. However, she presented with frequent mucoid, jelly-like diarrhea, and lower abdominal pain. Sigmoidscopy revealed multiple yellowish plaques with edematous mucosa, which were compatible with PMC. She was treated with oral vancomycin considering drug interactions. Symptoms were relieved and did not recur when all antituberculosis agents except pyrazinamide were started again. Therefore, when a patient complains of abdominal pain or diarrhea after initiation of antituberculosis therapy, the physician should consider the possibility of antituberculosis agent-associated PMC.

Paeoniae Radix has been used as a traditional medicine for various diseases including hepatic disease. However, the inhibitory effect of Paeoniae Radix on intestinal inflammation has not been fully understood yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Paeoniae Radix on colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium in mice. To investigate the protective effects of Paeoniae Radix, the colitis mice were induced by drinking water containing 5% dextran sulfate sodium for 7 days. Mice were randomized into groups receiving Paeoniae Radix (100 ㎎/㎏), sulfasalazine (150 ㎎/㎏) as a positive control, or water as a negative control. We evaluated the effects of Paeoniae Radix on clinical signs induced by dextran sulfate sodium, measuring weight loss, colon length, and disease activity index. Additionally, to find a possible explanation for the anti-inflammatory effects of Paeoniae Radix, we evaluated the effects of Paeoniae Radix on the interleukin-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 levels in colitis tissue. The results indicated that mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium showed measurable clinical signs, including weight loss and reduced colon length. However, Paeoniae Radix treatment significantly improved the weight loss and disease activity index as clinical symptoms. Moreover, Paeoniae Radix inhibited the interleukin-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 expression levels in colon tissues treated with dextran sulfate sodium. Taken together, the findings of this study suggest that Paeoniae Radix may be useful for treating intestinal inflammation, including ulcerative colitis.

Gochujang, a traditional Korean food, is fermented by mixing red pepper powder, various grain, meju and salt. Changes in the kind of ingredients and fermentation method could increase health functionalities. In this study, in vivo anti-colitis effects of gochujang prepared with mixed grains, bamboo salt baked 3 times and meju starters on DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice were studied. We prepared gochujang prepared with mixed grains (MG), bamboo salt, and Aspergillus oryzae (A) and Baccillus subtilis (B) mixed starters (MG-AB) and gochujang prepared with MG, bamboo salt and A, B and Lactobacillus plantarum (L) mixed starters (MG-ABL). MG-AB and MG-ABL significantly increased body weight and colon length compared to the control (p<0.05). MG-ABL showed significantly decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in serum compared to the control and MG-AB group (p<0.05). MG-ABL also regulated mRNA and protein levels of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in the mice colon tissue (p<0.05). Therefore, MG-ABL exhibited the increased anticolitis effects by inhibiting damage of colon tissue, probably by regulating a pro-inflammatory cytokine of IL-6 and regulated apoptosis related genes. These results indicated that gochujang changed with good ingredients and starters had colitis preventive effects and might be due to active compounds in mixed grain and bamboo salt, and produced by L during the fermentation of gochujang.

The association of colorectal cancer with ulcerative colitis (UC) is well-recognized. However, not much is known regarding the increased risk of extra-intestinal malignancies with UC. Several studies have revealed that patients with UC are at in-creased risk of hepatobiliary cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and myeloid leukemia. A 41-year-old man was diagnosed with UC in 1993 and had three relapses over the next three years. Six months after the fourth remission, he developed pan-cytopenia and was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). He achieved complete remissions of APL through chemotherapies, and, since then, no recurrences of APL and UC were observed.

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Pruns mume, Schisandra chinensis, Chaenomeles sinensis-- Prunus mume mixtrue (PM) treatment on colitis induced in mice by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment. A total of 25 male BALB/c mice (average weight 20.7 ± 1.6 g) were divided into 5 treatment groups and fed a commercial diet (A), PM administration (B), commercial diet + induced colitis by DSS (C), PM administration + induced colitis by DSS (D) and sulfasalazine + induced colitis by DSS (E). We found that PM treatment (D) and sulfasalazine (E) decreased the expression of TNF-α and COX-2 compared to the DSS-induced colitis group (C). The expression of IL-4, STAT6, IFN-γ, STAT1 was decreased in group D and group E compared to the colitis group (C), COX-2 and STAT1 were more decreased in group D. The serum IgE levels decreased in the PM treatment groups (C and D) compared to the non-PM treatment groups (A and B) although there was no significant difference between the PM treatment groups. It is notable that a therapeutic application of the PM extracts ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in mice.

We previously examined extracts, isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis (SB), chemical mediators, and IgE by mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymphocytes in rats. The present study was to evaluate the effects of extracts of SB on the MLN lymphocytes function of mice given orally by 20 mg/kg for 2 weeks with dextran sulfate sodium (DS)-induced colitis. Results show that IgE levels in MLN lymphocytes was low, while IgA was high, in mice given SB compared to that fed water. Concentrations of Inteferon-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 of T cells by concanavalin A treatment was significantly higher in the SB fed group than the normal group. Activation-induced IL-4 and IL-10 secretion was lower in SB fed mice compared control mice after DS-induced colitis. These results suggested that SB suppresses the inflammation in DS-induced colitis through the modulation of Th1/Th2 balance to down-regulate TH2 response in MLN lymphocytes.