Comparative Effects of Curcumin and Tetrahydrocurcumin on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Colitis and Inflammatory Signaling in Mice

Abstract

BackgroundCurcumin, a yellow ingredient of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn, Zingiberaceae), has long been used in traditional folk medicine in the management of inflammatory disorders. Although curcumin has been reported to inhibit experimentally-induced colitis and carcinogenesis, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unresolved.MethodsMurine colitis was induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) which mimics inflammatory bowel disease. Curcumin or tetrahydrocurcumin was given orally (0.1 or 0.25 mmol/kg body weight daily) for 7 days before and together with DSS administration (3% in tap water). Collected colon tissue was used for histologic and biochemical analyses.ResultsAdministration of curcumin significantly attenuated the severity of DSS-induced colitis and the activation of NF-κB and STAT3 as well as expression of COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. In contrast to curcumin, its non-electrophilic analogue, tetrahydrocurcumin has much weaker inhibitory effects.ConclusionsIntragastric administration of curcumin inhibited the experimentally induced murine colitis, which was associated with inhibition of pro-inflammatory signaling mediated by NF-κB and STAT3.

Curcumin induces mild anemia in a DSS-induced colitis mouse model maintained on an iron-sufficient diet

“…Regarding colitis severity, our study is in contrast with previous reports revealing a protective effect of curcumin in DSS-induced acute (13,57) and chronic (20) colitis in mice. Such differences may be due to the amount of iron found in standard rodent chow, which tends to have excess iron ranging from 350 mg/kg up to 900 mg iron/kg diet in some related studies (20).…”

The protective effect of syringic acid on dextran sulfate sodium‐induced experimental colitis in BALB/c mice

“…Previously, immunosuppressive agents, steroid hormones or salicylic acid derivatives were used in the treatment of IBD which did not produce desirable results and often caused side‐effects (Zhang et al, ). Recently, natural products have been reported to have potential anti‐colitic effects in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced experimental colitis model (Jeon et al, ; Mariano et al, ; Yang et al, ).…”

Reductive metabolites of curcumin and their therapeutic effects

“…Up to 400 mg/kg THC was regarded as safe in rats, as stated in preclinical safety research [ 68 ]. THC is widely known as an anticancer agent [ 69 , 70 , 71 ]. As a radiosensitizer, it could stimulate G0/G1 cell cycle arrest by suppressing cyclin D1 and PCNA in glioma cells [ 69 ].…”

“…As a radiosensitizer, it could stimulate G0/G1 cell cycle arrest by suppressing cyclin D1 and PCNA in glioma cells [ 69 ]. THC, in combination with 5-FU, inhibited Oesophageal cell proliferation [ 70 ]. THC showed lower inhibitory activity against inflammation-associated carcinogenesis in mice [ 79 ].…”