Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC., a traditional herbal medicine, reduces inflammation, oxidative stress and protects the intestinal barrier in a murine model of colitis

Abstract

Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC., known as rock tea (RT), is traditionally used in Spain as a digestive due to its beneficial properties in bowel disorders. The pharmacological nature of these properties has not been established yet. The aim of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic utility of RT in experimental colitis and to identify chemical constituents with anti-inflammatory and/or anti-oxidative properties. RT extract was prepared with ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus and analysed by HPLC-DAD. Superoxide radical scavenging properties, xanthine oxidase and lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitory activity, and capability to lower nitric oxide (NO) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels were measured in cellfree and cell-based assays. In the 2.5%-dextran-sodium sulphate (DSS) injury-repair model of ulcerative colitis (UC), mice were daily treated with sulfasalazine (SSZ, as reference drug, 100 mg/kg bw), RT (5, 25 and 50 mg/kg bw, p.o.), or vehicle over 20-days. Colitis was scored daily. Colon samples were macroscopically and histopathologically examined. Protein levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukins 6, and 10 (IL-6, IL-10), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were studied as markers of oxidative stress and inflammatory activity. The integrity of the apical epithelial layer was assessed by immunofluorescence staining of zonula ocludens-1 (ZO-1). Finally, intestinal contractility was also evaluated by isometric myography. Fifteen phenolic compounds and three pigments were identified and quantified, of which caffeoylquinic acids, and the flavonoid, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, were the most abundant. RT extract significantly scavenged superoxide radicals, inhibited 5-LOX activity, and lowered NO and TNF-α levels. DSS-treated mice receiving RT scored clinically lower than controls during the first 3-days of DSS-treatment and during the recovery period. SSZ was less effective than RT. Anatomical and histological examination of colon samples revealed that RT significantly prevented shortening and thickening, and lowered the macroscopic damage score. RT also significantly prevented the increase of MPO activity, IL-6 levels, iNOS and COX-2 expression, the loss of ZO-1 apical expression, and normalized contractility disturbances. In conclusion, daily administration of RT showed therapeutic properties in the DSS-model of UC. The benefits of RT can likely be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant phenolic and flavonoid constituents.

Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC., a Traditional Herbal Tea, Exerts Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Properties in Different In Vitro and In Vivo Systems

“…Ethnobotanical studies on this plant report that its main use, as an infusion, is for the treatment of diarrhea, dyspepsia or abdominal pain [ 2 ]. These digestive properties were demonstrated for the first time in a murine model of colitis [ 3 , 4 ]. In these studies, the oral administration of an ethanolic extract of RT (5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) ameliorated colitis symptomatology, prevented the macroscopic damage and histological changes induced by dextran sulfate sodium in mice and normalized the intestinal contractibility and the intestinal total transit disrupted by the colitis [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Some of these effects could be explained by anti-inflammatory [ 4 , 8 ] or antioxidant effects [ 4 , 5 , 9 ], which are related to its phytochemical composition. A recent in vivo study has shown that dietary supplementation with RT (10 or 30%) for 15 or 30 days in sea bream ( Sparus aurata L. ) improves short-term immunostimulatory capacity (15 days) and maintains antioxidant capacity in the long-term (30 days) [ 10 ].…”

“…Different studies have shown that J. glutinosa is rich in polyphenols, terpenes, esters, alkanes, lactones or flavonol glucopyranoside [ 1 , 4 , 9 ]. High-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPCL-DAD) analysis of the ethanolic extract of RT showed a rich content of phenolic compounds (134.4 mg/g, dry extract) and pigments (0.27 mg/g, dry extract) ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…In respect to pigments, two carotenoids, chlorophylls and xanthophylls were detected. Lutein represented 55% of the total pigments [ 4 ].…”

Polyphenolic Maqui Extract as a Potential Nutraceutical to Treat TNBS-Induced Crohn’s Disease by the Regulation of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways

“…However, the large amounts of NO• generated from iNOS have been implicated in tissue damage and intestinal inflammation [ 52 ]. On the other hand, evidence from experimental models of intestinal inflammation demonstrate an up-regulation of iNOS expression [ 10 , 53 ]. In the present research, we observed a significative decrease in the expression of iNOS protein in the Preventive and Curative treatment groups with Ach.…”