Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Rhei Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma Mixture on Reflux Esophagitis in Rats

الملخص EN

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the combined extract of Rhei rhizoma and Coptidis rhizoma (RC-mix) in experimental model of acute reflux esophagitis.

The antioxidant activity was assessed by in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays.

RC-mix was given at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight 2 h prior to induction of reflux esophagitis (RE).

After 5 h, the effects of RC-mix treated rats were compared with those of normal and control rats.

The representative flavonoid contents of RC-mix, such as sennoside A, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine, and berberine, were detected using HPLC.

The elevated esophageal mucosa damage was markedly ameliorated by RC-mix treatment in a dose-dependent manner.

Furthermore, the administration of RC-mix reduced the increase of serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxynitrite (ONOO−).

The improvement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels were marked in the group given RC-mix.

Moreover, the elevation of inflammatory mediators and cytokines by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF- κ B) activation in control rats decreased by RC-mix pretreatment.

These results indicate that RC-mix treatment reduces the pathological states of esophagitis via regulating NF- κ B mediated inflammation related to oxidative stress.