Protective Effects of the Combination of the Herbal Compound Against Inflammation Related to Obesity and Colitis Induced by Diet in Mice

Objective: High-fat diet (HFD) rises the susceptibility of both obesity and consequently Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). We designed a study to investigate the improving effects of herbal extract (HE, the combination of turmeric, ginger, boswellia, and cat’s claw extract) on the risk of high AGEs-fat diet ۶۰% (HFD) mice induced colitis and obesity. Materials and Methods: Four-week-old C۵۷BL/۶ male mice after ۲ weeks adaptation with normal diet were fed with either HFD or normal diets. After ۶ weeks of being on diet, animals received HE for ۱۶ weeks. Obesity index markers were determined as well as histological studies using H&E (Hematoxylin-eosin) staining. Colonic expression of IL-۱β was determined. Data analysis was performed by utilizing Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test for post-hoc comparisons, and SPSS (version ۱۷.۰) and GraphPad Prism Software (Version ۸.۰, USA). Results: HE decreased histological scores (by ۶-fold) in HFD diet-fed mice, and reduced myeloperoxidase activity (by ۲.۲-fold), and ratio of colon weight to length (by ۴-fold) in HFD diet-fed mice. Moreover, HE prevented intestinal permeability through the restoration of ZO-۱ (by ۴-fold) and immune homeostasis by modulation of IL-۱β (by ۲.۴-fold) expression. Conclusion: HFD induced obesity-associated colitis. HE decreased the colitis symptoms in HFD diet-fed mice, with the reduction of inflammation.

Keywords:

Colitis , High-fat diet , Herbal extract , Inflammation