Experimental Study Of Curcumin Plus Soybean Oligosaccharides In The Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the effect of curcumin plus soybean oligosac-charides on the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) was investigated. Meanwhile,explored the possible role of cytokines(IL-1β, IL-4and IL-6) and nuclearfactor-kappa Вp65(NF-КВp65) in the pathogenesis of UC.METHODS:80male SD rats were randomly divided into4groups (n=20)which were: normal group, sulfasalazine (SASP) group, model group, curcumin plussoybean oligosaccharides (Cur plus SBOS) group. Except the normal group, theremaining three groups were given2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) by enema andon the rat back to make the model of ulcerative colitis. Rats with bad general physicalstate and bloody purulent stool were judged as successful model. After modelingsucceeded, rats stool were collected once time to detect the content of fecesEscherichia coli, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Besides,treatment measures were applied, they were: the SASP group were orally given100mg/kg SASP solution (100mg SASP per one kilogram bodyweight) by once aday; the Cur plus SBOS group were orally treated with100mg/kg curcumin and3.33ml/kg soybean oligomeric sugar by once a day; both the normal group and modelgroup were just orally given1%sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution by once aday. All treatments lasted for4weeks and rats stool were collected once again todetect the content of feces Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium andLactobacillus at the end. In the5th week, all rats were sacrificed by decapitation with4ml blood collected. Then, the serum was collected after centrifugation for detection.In addition, dissected the colon tissue and observed the gross morph of the colonmucosa by naked eyes to judge the injury by scores. Clipped the obvious lesions andmade paraffin block for detection. Using a double antibody sandwich ABC-ELISAmethod (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) to analyze the serum levels ofinterleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6(IL-6) and interleukin-4(IL-4). Using theparaffin block to make paraffin sections, some sections were stained withhematoxylin and feosin (HE) followed by photographing to judge the histological injury by scores, some sections were used for immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detectthe expression of NF-κВp65in the mucosa.RESULTS: Before the treatment, in UC model group, the colonic mucosa grossmorph and histological injury scores as well as the serum IL-1β, IL-6levels were thehighest, while the serum IL-4level and the gray value of the NF-kBp65were thelowest. Besides, the fecal flora E. coli and enterococci were the most while theBifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were the least. After treatment, compared withmodel group, the colonic mucosa gross morph and histology injury scores as well asthe serum IL-1β, IL-6levels in the Cur plus SBOS group were significantly reduced,while the serum IL-4level and NF-kBp65gray value were significantly increased (P<0.01), but there were no statistical differences with the SASP group (P>0.05). Inaddition, the fecal flora E. coli and enterococci content decreased when comparedwith the model group, SASP group and before treatment (P <0.05), while thebifidobacteria and lactobacilli content increased significantly (P <0.01).CONCLUSION: Curcumin plus soybean oligosaccharides can promote thehealing of ulcerative colitis. Its possible mechanism may be the anti-inflammatoryeffect of Cur which can adjust the release of cytokines. It also can inhibit a keyenzyme in the activation pathway of NF-КВ and prevent partial signals (primarilycytokines) related to NF-КВ activation as well as up-regulate the PPAR-γexpressionin the colon tissue to negatively regulate NF-КВ expression to block NF-КВsignaling pathway, thereby block the amplification effect of inflammation tosignificantly anti-inflammatory, relieve the colonic mucosal inflammation and tissuedamage to protect the colon mucosa. SBOS can promote the proliferation of intestinalbacteria, especially bifidobacteria, and reduce the growth of pathogenic bacteria.SBOS can also regulate cytokine to maintain the barrier of the intestinal mucosa aswell as the epithelial integrity and enhance the stability of the cell membrane, thusalleviate the inflammation and promote the healing of ulcers.