Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the patients' colorectal area culminating in an inflamed 'leaky gut.' The majority of UC treatments only provide temporary respite leading to its relapse. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of the enteric-coated 'Cologrit' (EC) tablet in alleviating UC-like inflammation. Cologrit is formulated using polyherbal extracts that have anti-inflammatory qualities according to ancient Ayurveda scriptures. Phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of gallic acid, rutin, ellagic acid, and imperatorin in Cologrit formulation. Cologrit treatment decreased inflammation in LPS-induced transformed THP-1 macrophages, and TNF-α-stimulated human colorectal (HT-29) cells through the modulation of NFκB activity, IL-6 production, and NFκB, IL-1β, IL-8, and CXCL5 mRNA expression levels. Cologrit also lessened human monocytic (U937) cell adhesion to HT29 cells. Methacrylic acid-ethylacrylate copolymer-coating of the enteric Cologrit tablets (EC) supported their dissolution, and the release of phytochemicals in the small intestine pH 7.0 environment in a simulated gastrointestinal digestion model. Small intestine EC digestae effectively abridged dextran sodium sulfate (2.5% w/v)-induced cell viability loss and oxidative stress in human colon epithelial Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, the enteric-coated Cologrit tablets demonstrated good small intestine-specific phytochemical delivery capability, and decreased UC-like inflammation, and oxidative stress through the regulation of TNF-α/NFκB/IL6 signaling axis.
Keywords: anti-inflammatory; anti-oxidant; enteric-coated tablet; herbal medicine; inflammatory bowel disease; ulcerative colitis.