Antiinflammatory Effect of Phytosterols in Experimental Murine Colitis Model: Prevention, Induction, Remission Study

Abstract

Phytosterols, besides hypocholesterolemic effect, present anti-inflammatory properties. Little information is available about their efficacy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Therefore, we have evaluated the effect of a mixture of phytosterols on prevention/induction/remission in a murine experimental model of colitis. Phytosterols were administered x os before, during and after colitis induction with Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) in mice. Disease Activity Index (DAI), colon length, histopathology score, 18F-FDG microPET, oxidative stress in the intestinal tissue (ileum and colon) and gallbladder ileum and colon spontaneous and carbachol (CCh) induced motility, plasma lipids and plasma, liver and biliary bile acids (BA) were evaluated. A similar longitudinal study was performed in a DSS colitis control group. Mice treated with DSS developed severe colitis as shown by DAI, colon length, histopathology score, 18F-FDG microPET, oxidative stress. Both spontaneous and induced ileal and colonic motility were severely disturbed. The same was observed with gallbladder. DSS colitis resulted in an increase in plasma cholesterol, and a modification of the BA pattern. Phytosterols feeding did not prevent colitis onset but significantly reduced the severity of the disease and improved clinical and histological remission. It had strong antioxidant effects, almost restored colon, ileal and gallbladder motility. Plasmatic levels of cholesterol were also reduced. DSS induced a modification in the BA pattern consistent with an increase in the intestinal BA deconjugating bacteria, prevented by phytosterols. Phytosterols seem a potential nutraceutical tool for gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, combining metabolic systematic and local anti-inflammatory effects.

Beneficial effect of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tuber on experimental ulcerative colitis in rats

“…In addition to betulinic acid, b-sitosterol also exhibited inhibitory influence on TNBS-induced UC in mice through inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines and cycloxygenase (COX-2) enzymes (Lee et al 2012). Recently b-sitosterol showed preventive effect on dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis through anti-inflammatory action (Aldini et al 2014). This evidence suggests that the anticolitic effect of tuber extracts may be due to the presence of betulinic acid and b-sitosterol.…”

Ursolic acid protects against ulcerative colitis via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in mice

“…The DAI was calculated for each animal, as reported previously (18). Briefly, the DAI was determined by combining the scores assigned for body weight loss, stool consistency and stool blood, with the mean of the three values deemed the DAI.…”

β-Sitosterol and stigmasterol ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice fed a high fat Western-style diet

“…Phytosterols have also been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in commonly used animal models for colitis 5–9 . It was reported that β-sitosterol attenuates high-fat diet-induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice 5 .…”