Jumihaidokuto effectively inhibits colon inflammation and apoptosis in mice with acute colitis

- Administration of Jumihaidokuto attenuates the inflammatory cascade in colitis.
- It reduced the infiltration of proinflammatory cytokines to the gut barrier.
- It also reduces oxidative stress, ER stress and apoptotic signaling.
- This Japanese kampo medicine can be a suitable therapeutic option for IBD.

Jumihaidokuto, a Japanese kampo medicine, is prescribed in Japan for its anti-inflammatory activity. Here we have examined its beneficial effects against acute colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice. We have used C57BL/6 female mice, divided into two groups and received 3% DSS in drinking water during the experimental period (8 days). Treatment group mice received 1 g/kg/day dose of Jumihaidokuto orally whereas DSS control group received equal volume of distilled water. Normal control group mice received plain drinking water. Jumihaidokuto treatment attenuated the colitis symptoms along with suppression of various inflammatory marker proteins such as IL-1β, IL-2Rα, IL-4, CTGF and RAGE. It has also down-regulated the oxidative stress and apoptotic signaling in the colons of mice with colitis. The present study has confirmed the beneficial effects of Jumihaidokuto on DSS induced acute colitis in mice and suggests that it can be a potential agent for the treatment of colitis.