Planta Med 2012; 78(09): 896-898
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1298486
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Letters
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Inhibitory Effect of β-Sitosterol on TNBS-Induced Colitis in Mice

In-Ah Lee
1   Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
2   Department of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
,
Eun-Jin Kim
1   Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
,
Dong-Hyun Kim
1   Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
2   Department of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 16 January 2012
revised 14 March 2012

accepted 09 April 2012

Publication Date:
26 April 2012 (online)

Abstract

β-Sitosterol, a common sterol in herbal medicines, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects beneficial in the treatment of lung inflammation, asthma, and bronchospasm. To evaluate whether β-sitosterol also has anticolitic benefits, we tested the effect of β-sitosterol on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice. β-Sitosterol inhibited colon shortening and led to lowered macroscopic scores and myeloperoxidase activity in TNBS-treated colitic mice. β-Sitosterol also inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and an inflammatory enzyme, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, in the colons of TNBS-induced colitic mice, as well as the activation of NF-κB. Based on these findings, β-sitosterol may ameliorate colitis by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.

Supporting Information

 
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