Anti-inflammatory Effect of Pyrus calleryana var. fauriei on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Acute Colitis in Mice and Lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells

Back ground: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a pathological condition of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by chronic and relapsing inflammation. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Pyrus calleryana var. fauriei extract (PCE) in vitro and in vivo.BR/Methods and Results: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice were used to evaluate the effects of PCE. In RAW 264.7 cells, PCE inhibited nitric oxide production and phagocytosis without cytotoxicity, and the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-6. Colitis was induced in the mice using 2% DSS for 5 days, and PCE was administered for 14 days. PCE treatment relieved the symptoms of colitis, such as weight loss, diarrhea, and bloody feces. Moreover, PCE ameliorated splenomegaly and colonic shortening, indicators of colitis. PCE reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-22. Histological analysis revealed that PCE treatment alleviated colonic mucosal damage and macrophage infiltration.BR/Conclusions: These results suggest that PCE has anti-inflammatory activity on LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, and ameliorates the clinical symptoms and colonic mucosal damage of DSS-induced colitis in mice. Therefore, PCE is a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of IBD.