Exploration of mechanism of ethanol extract of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in treating ulcerative colitis based on Th17/Treg immune balance
GUO Chun-yu
DONG Hong-jing
GUO Lan-ping
LI Jia
PAN Shao-bin
LI Qing-jun
WANG Xiao
Abstract：Objective:To explore the effect and mechanism of alcohol extract of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi on immune balance in treating ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods:24 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,mesalazine group,and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi alcohol extract group(400 mg·kg-1,n =6 for each group).A mouse model of UC was established by drinking water containing 2.5%dextran sulfate sodium(DSS).The body weight and general condition of the mice in each group were observed every day,and the disease activity index(DAI)was calculated on the 6th day;the length of the colon was measured;the proportion of T helper 17(Th17)/regulatory T cells(Treg cells)in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen was detected by flow cytometry;hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the degree of colon tissue damage;the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),IL-10 and IL-1β in colon were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;the expressions of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB p65),p-NF-κB p65,and I kappaB-alpha(IκB-α)in colon were detected by Western blot;the main short chain fatty acids were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry;high-content imaging was used to observe the nuclear translocation of RAW264.7 cells.Results:The alcohol extract of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi improved the symptoms of colitis induced by DSS in mice,restored the Th17/Treg immune balance in mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen,reduced the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in colon tissue,and increased the expression level of IL-10.It decreased the expressions of TLR4,NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65,increased the expression of IκB-α,increased the content of intestinal short-chain fatty acids,and inhibited the nuclear translocation induced by LPS.Conclusion:The alcohol extract of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi can improve the symptoms of UC mice,and the mechanism may be to restore Th17/Treg immune balance by improving intestinal homeostasis and inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB pathway.
Keywords：Scutellaria baicalensis Georgiethanol extractulcerative colitisTh17/Treg immune balanceTLR4/NF-κB signal pathwayshort-chain fatty acids
Publication Date：2024-02-29
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-14(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：10( 390-399 )