Benefit Effect of Dendrobium officinale Ultrafine Powder on DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Rats by Improving Colon Mucosal Barrier

Xiang Zheng; Tao-Xiu Xiong; Ke Zhang; Fu-Chen Zhou; Hui-Ying Wang; Bo Li; Ying-Jie Dong; Xinglishang He; Lin-Zi Li; Qiao-Xian Yu; Gui-Yuan Lv; Su-Hong Chen

doi:10.1155/2021/9658638

Benefit Effect of Dendrobium officinale Ultrafine Powder on DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Rats by Improving Colon Mucosal Barrier

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Dec 30:2021:9658638. doi: 10.1155/2021/9658638. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Xiang Zheng¹, Tao-Xiu Xiong¹, Ke Zhang¹, Fu-Chen Zhou¹, Hui-Ying Wang¹, Bo Li^{1

2}, Ying-Jie Dong¹, Xinglishang He¹, Lin-Zi Li¹, Qiao-Xian Yu³, Gui-Yuan Lv⁴, Su-Hong Chen^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China.
² Zhejiang Synergetic Traditional Chinese Medicine Research and Development Co., Ltd., Deqing 322099, Zhejiang, China.
³ Zhejiang Senyu Co., Ltd., Yiwu 322099, Zhejiang, China.
⁴ Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China.

Abstract

Materials and methods: After intragastric administration of DOFP for 3 weeks, the rat UC model was made by the administration of 4% oral DSS solution for one week, and the drug was given at the same time. During the experiment, the disease activity index (DAI) score of the rats was regularly computed. At the end of the experiment, the blood routine indexes of rats were obtained. The histopathological changes in the colon were monitored by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and PAS staining and observation of ultrastructural changes in the colon by transmission electron microscope. Occludin expression in the colon was monitored by Western blot, the expression of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in the colon was detected by immunofluorescence, and the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the colon was detected by immunohistochemistry.

Results: The results firstly indicated that DOFP could significantly alleviate the signs and symptoms of the DSS-induced rats UC model, which manifested as improvement of body weight loss, increase of colon length, and improvement of the symptoms of diarrhea and hematochezia. Then, results from histopathology, blood routine examination, and transmission electron microscope analysis further implied that DOFP could dramatically reduce inflammatory cell infiltration and restore intestinal epithelial barrier integrity. In addition, the experiments of Western Blot analysis, immunofluorescence, and PAS staining also further confirmed that DOFP could markedly increase related protein expressions of the intestinal barrier and mucus barrier, as the expression of occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the colon significantly decreased. The experiments of immunohistochemistry confirmed that DOFP could markedly decrease protein expression levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β.

Conclusion: DOFP notably alleviated inflammatory lesions, repaired the colon mucosa damage by promoting the expression of tight junction proteins occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 and inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and finally achieved the purpose of treating UC.