In this article, we aim to examine the novel effects of β-sitosterol on murine experimental colitis. β-Sitosterol significantly reduces the weight loss, colon length, and alleviated microscopic appearances of colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium. This compound also decreases the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in intestinal tissue of mice with experimental colitis in a concentration-dependent manner. β-Sitosterol treatment to intestinal epithelial cells significantly increases expression of antimicrobial peptides and reduces survival of intracellular Salmonella typhimurium. These results showed the multiple effects of β-sitosterol against pathogenic bacteria for a novel approach to the treatment of colonic inflammation.
Keywords: Crohn’s disease (CD); antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); dextran sulfate sodium (DSS); β-sitosterol, ulcerative colitis (UC).
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