Background/aims: We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Peifeikang, a probiotics compound, on colitis in rats induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and to elucidate its potential mechanism.
Material and methods: We evaluated the therapeutic effects of Peifeikang by analysis of the disease activity index, colonic mucosa damage index, and histopathological score of the inflamed colons, by measurement of colonic myeloperoxidase activity through spectrophotometric assay, by determination of colonic positivities of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 via immunochemical staining, and by detection of serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid caused colonic inflammation similar to human ulcerative colitis with significantly increased disease activity index, colonic mucosa damage index, histopathological score, and colonic myeloperoxidase activities (p<0.05). After treatment with Peifeikang or olsalazine alone, or both, disease activity index, colonic mucosa damage index, histopathological score, and colonic myeloperoxidase activities decreased significantly (p<0.05). The relief of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis was accompanied by significantly decreased production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in both serum and intra-colon (p<0.05) and by significantly increased production of interleukin-10 in both serum and intra-colon (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Peifeikang can effectively ameliorate trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats, the underlying mechanism of which may be attributed to the modulatory effects of Peifeikang on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10.