Systematic Investigation of the Efficacy of Sinitang Decoction Against Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the precise clinical use of Sinitang decoction (SNT) in ulcerative colitis (UC). Network pharmacology-based analysis of the drug components–targets–diseases–pathways was used to predict the possible clinical applications of SNT. Next, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) was used to establish a rat model of UC, and the efficacy of SNT against UC was tested, followed by a proteomic analysis of the specific signatures regulated by SNT against UC. SNT was predicted to be effective in inflammatory bowel disease, UC, and several other diseases. In the rats with UC, SNT decreased the disease activity index and colon mucosal damage index compared to the untreated UC model rats. Additionally, SNT reversed the upregulated levels of serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), interleukin (IL)-6, and nitric oxide (NO) in UC model rats. The proteomic analysis identified 78 proteins that were differentially regulated by SNT in the rats with UC, which were associated with the Gene Ontology terms sulfur compound binding, calcium ion binding, and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 binding. Among these differentially regulated proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and collagen alpha-1(XII) chain (COL12A1) were found to be signature proteins associated with the efficacy of SNT against UC. This study represents the first precise investigation of the efficacy and mechanisms of SNT against UC, and shows that SNT is a promising candidate for personalized management of UC.

Revisiting an Expression Dataset of Discordant Inflammatory Bowel Disease Twin Pairs Using a Mutation Burden Test Reveals CYP2C18 as a Novel Marker

“…The expression of OLFM4 was highly upregulated in inflamed colonic epithelium, especially in UC ( Gersemann et al, 2012 ; Suzuki et al, 2018 ). Furthermore, the relationships between IBD and some of the top DEGs ( Figure 2B ), such as MMP1 ( Wang and Qiu, 2010 ) and COL12A1 ( Ji et al, 2020 ), have also been reported. Interestingly, the serum levels of LOXL2 are significantly higher in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) ( Pollheimer et al, 2018 ), which is closely associated with IBD, and LOXL2 targeting in IBD has been evaluated in PSC ( Lynch et al, 2019 ).…”

Gas-Mediated Intestinal Microbiome Regulation Prompts the Methanol Extract of Schizonepetae Spica to Relieve Colitis

“…The harvested distal colons of each experimental group were sliced, and the pathological evaluation of the colon lesions of the mice in each group was performed. A 0.5 cm piece of colon tissue was embedded in paraffin after being treated in 4% paraformaldehyde for 48 h. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) was used to stain 5 µm–thick sections [ 19 ]. Colon tissue damage was observed under light microscopy at different magnifications, and histopathological scoring was performed based on seven aspects [ 17 ]: Degree of inflammation (score ranged from 0~4 for Normal, Mucosal, Submucosal, Muscular and Serous involvement), Degree of damage to the crypt (score ranged from 0~4 for Normal, basal 1/3 of the crypt, basal 2/3 of the crypt, entire crypt involvement and damage to the crypt and ulceration), Crypt abscesses (score ranged from 0~2 for Normal, Unifocal and Multifocal involvement), Infiltration of inflammatory cells, Degree of submucosal edema, Goblet cell reduction, Degree of epithelial hyperplasia (score ranged from 0~3 for Normal, Unifocal, Multifocal and Diffuse involvement).…”

“…After the experiment, the fecal broth was centrifuged at 10,000 r/min for 10 min at 4 °C; the supernatant was extracted, mixed with the internal standard crotonic acid at a ratio of 5:1, and refrigerated and acidified for more than 24 h. Finally, it was used for gas chromatography to measure the amounts of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid and isovaleric acid in fecal bacteria fermentation acidification solution [ 19 ].…”

Mechanism of interventional effect and targets of Zhuyu pill in regulating and suppressing colitis and cholestasis

“…Each group consisted of six rats. Except the normal group, all groups were administered with a single TNBS enema to induce acute colitis (100 mg/kg) ( Ji et al, 2020 ), 8 cm from the anus, using a catheter. The normal group was administered the same amount of vehicle (paroline) enema as the control.…”