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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Protective effect of Rhei Rhizoma on reflux esophagitis in rats via Nrf2-mediated inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway

Authors: O Jun Kwon, Byung Kil Choo, Joo Young Lee, Min Yeong Kim, Sung Ho Shin, Bu-Il Seo, Young-Bae Seo, Man Hee Rhee, Mi-Rae Shin, Gyo-Nam Kim, Chan Hum Park, Seong-Soo Roh

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Rhei Rhizoma has been widely used as a traditional herbal medicine to treat various inflammatory diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity against experimental reflux-induced esophagitis (RE) in SD rats.

Methods

Rhei Rhizoma was administered at 125 or 250 mg/kg body weight per day for 7 days prior to the induction of reflux esophagitis, and its effect was compared with RE control and normal rats.

Results

Rhei Rhizoma administration markedly ameliorated mucosal damage on histological evaluation. The elevated reactive oxygen species in the esophageal tissue of RE control rats decreased with the administration of Rhei Rhizoma. RE control rats exhibited the down-regulation of antioxidant-related proteins, such as nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression levels, in the presence of esophagitis; however, the levels with Rhei Rhizoma treatment were significantly higher than those in RE control rats. Moreover, RE control rats exhibited the up-regulation of protein expressions related to oxidative stress in the presence of esophagitis, but Rhei Rhizoma administration significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory proteins through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-related signaling pathways. The protein expressions of inflammatory mediators and cytokines by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation were modulated through blocking the phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (IκB)α.

Conclusion

Our findings support the therapeutic evidence for Rhei Rhizoma ameliorating the development of esophagitis via regulating inflammation through the activation of the antioxidant pathway.
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Metadata
Title
Protective effect of Rhei Rhizoma on reflux esophagitis in rats via Nrf2-mediated inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors
O Jun Kwon
Byung Kil Choo
Joo Young Lee
Min Yeong Kim
Sung Ho Shin
Bu-Il Seo
Young-Bae Seo
Man Hee Rhee
Mi-Rae Shin
Gyo-Nam Kim
Chan Hum Park
Seong-Soo Roh
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0974-z

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