Effects of the Antioxidant Quercetin in an Experimental Model of Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

oleh: George Kottakis, Katerina Kambouri, Alexandra Giatromanolaki, Georgia Valsami, Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos, Alexandra Tsaroucha, Michael Pitiakoudis

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-12-01

Deskripsi

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Quercetin, a member of the flavanol family found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves and grains has been found to have a wide range of biological effects on human physiology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin, when administered orally in the form of the water-soluble inclusion complex with hydroxypropyl-b-cyclodextrin (Que-HP-β-CD), in an experimental model of ulcerative colitis in mice. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Animals received either Dextran Sodium Sulphate (DSS), to induce colitis, + Que-HP-β-CD (Group A), DSS alone (Group B) or no intervention (control, Group C) for 7 days. All animals were weighed daily, and evaluation of colitis was performed using the Disease Activity Index (DAI). On day 7 a blood sample was taken from all animals, they were then euthanised, the large intestine was measured, and histological and immunochemical analyses were performed. <i>Results</i>: The DAI demonstrated an increase over time for the groups receiving DSS (Groups A and B) compared with the control group (Group C), with a significant degree of protection being observed in the group that also received quercetin (Group A): The DAI over time slope for Group B was higher than that for Group A by 0.26 points/day (95% Cl 0.20–0.33, <i>p</i> < 0.01). Weight calculations and immunohistochemistry results validated the DAI findings. <i>Conclusions</i>: In conclusion, the administration of quercetin in an ulcerative colitis model in mice presents a therapeutic/prophylactic potential that warrants further investigation.