Huanghou Zhixie dropping pills alleviate ulcerative colitis via MAPK/ NF-kB signalling pathway

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Huanghou Zhixie dropping pills in ulcerative colitis
treatment.
Method: The study was conducted at the Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China, between March and November
2022, and comprised specific pathogen-free Bagg albino (C57BL6) adult female mice. Ulcerative colitis was induced using
dextran sulfate sodium. The mice were divided randomly into control group, model group, low-dose Huanghou Zhixie
dropping pills HZDP-L group, medium-dose Huanghou Zhixie dropping pills HZDP-M group, high-dose Huanghou Zhixie
dropping pills HZDP-H group, and mesalazine group. The quality of the model was verified through Disease Activity Index,
Colonic Mucosal Damage Index, and Histopathological) analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure
inflammatory factors related to ulcerative colitis, including Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-
beta), Interleukin-4 (IL-4), Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10). Western blot
analysis was conducted to examine the relevant factors, such as cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, Protein
65 (P65), Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK), Phosphorylated Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (p-MAPK) and
Phosphorylated Protein 65 (p-P65). Data was analysed using SPSS 20.
Results: Of the 36 female mice aged 8 weeks and having mean weight 18±2g, 6(16.66%) were in each of the 6 groups.
Huanghou Zhixie dropping pills significantly reduced dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis symptoms, weightloss
and colon damage (p<0.05). Huanghou Zhixie dropping pills decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory TNF-alpha,
IL-1beta, TGF-beta, and IL-6 factors, and increased the expression of anti-inflammatory IL-4 and IL-10 factors in the colon tissue of
the mice (p<0.05). Additionally, Huanghou Zhixie dropping pills reduced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2, inducible
nitric oxide synthase, P-MAPK and P-P65 in the colon tissue (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Huanghou Zhixie dropping pills alleviated colitis by modulating inflammatory factors through the Mitogen-
Activated Protein Kinase/Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (MAPK/NF-kB) signalling pathway.
The Huanghou Zhixie dropping pills could be a potential therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis treatment, offering a novel
approach to managing the disease by targeting specific inflammatory pathways.
Keywords: HZDP, Ulcerative colitis, MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathway, Inflammatory factors.