Page 40 - I. Chemical biology and drug discovery
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[I. Chemical biology and drug discovery-21]
Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects of
puerarin on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice
model
Ji-Hyun Lee¹˙#, Yong-Deok Jeon²˙#, Ji-Ye Lim¹, Dae-Ki Kim¹˙*
¹Immunology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 54907, Republic of Korea, ²Korean pharmacy, Woosuk
University, Wanju-Gun 55338, Republic of Korea
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing IBD, which is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal
bleeding. The aim of this study was to investigate whether puerarin, one of the main components of the root of
Pueraria lobata, exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects against UC. To examine the anti-inflammatory
and anti-oxidative effects of puerarin against colitis, we used a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-
induced colitis. Administration of puerarin alleviated colon shortening, pathological damage to the colon, and
myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Puerarin significantly inhibited inflammation through the down-regulation of
nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators. Moreover, puerarin showed anti-
oxidative effects through the regulation of the expression of the NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway and
antioxidant enzymes. Puerarin inhibited intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction by increasing the expression of tight
junction proteins. These results suggest that puerarin could be used as a potential natural therapeutic for the
prevention and treatment of inflammatory colitis diseases.
