Nerolidol a Natural Aliphatic Sesquiterpene Mitigates Inflammation in DSS‐induced Colitis
Authors: subramanya Sandeep B. , Raj Vishnu , Chandran Sanjana , Al Marzooqui Saeeda , Ojha Shreesh 
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which affect both small and large intestine. The aetiology of this disease remains unclear but seems to be multifactorial in nature. The current therapy for IBD relies on the use of sulfasalazine, corticosteroids, azatriopine and anti‐TNFa antibody as a mainstream therapy. However, the adverse effect associated with these drugs over prolonged treatment period limit their use. Therefore, unconventional treatment using dietary supplements rich in phytochemicals is increasing in popularity because of less adverse effect along with time tested safety and acceptability. Phytochemicals (a group of secondary plant metabolites) richly present in plants and plant based food sources. Numerous line of evidences implicate that the consumption phytochemical rich diet is beneficial in lowering the risk of several diseases. The anti‐inflammatory effect of many phytochemicals are partly mediated by modulating nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) directly or indirectly through activating peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma along with its proven antioxidant properties. These mounting evidences suggest that the prospect of phytochemical mediated effect is most likely to encompass more than the well‐known antioxidant activity. Nerolidol (NRD) is one such phytochemical found abundantly in many edible plants appears to be having anti‐inflammatory properties.

Aim

Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate the role of NRD for its anti‐inflammatory property using mice model of colonic inflammation.

Methodology

C57Bl/6 black mice were orally administered with 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. The treatment group received NRD using oral gavage at various concentrations (50–150 mg/kg body wt) and compared with control and DSS along with a positive control through clinically used drug (sulfasalazine) group. The disease activity index (DAI) was established throughout the treatment period. After 7 days, the colon was excised and the length was measured processed for histology. Changes in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and pro‐inflammatory cytokines were estimated using ELISA and RTPCR. Cox‐2, and iNOS protein expression was carried out using Western blot.

Results

NRD significantly (p<0.01) decreased DAI dose dependently. DSS administration significantly (p<0.01) reduced colon length however, NRD reversed colon length changes dose dependently. MPO activity was also significantly (p<0.01) inhibited by NRD dose dependently. Histological scoring for colonic crypt damage and inflammation was significantly improved upon NRD treatment. NRD also inhibited the pro‐inflammatory cytokine (IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α) response significantly both at protein and mRNA level. COX‐2 and iNOS protein expression was also significantly inhibited by NRD.

Conclusion

NRD appears to attenuate aberrant inflammatory response observed in DSS‐induced colitis by inhibiting pro‐inflammatory mediators.

Support or Funding Information

Start‐Up funds from UAE University

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.