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Lemon Verbena Infusion Consumption Attenuates Oxidative Stress in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in the Rat

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 56, pages 3534–3545 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) consist of an uncontrolled intestinal inflammation leading to mucosal disruption. This inflammation is accompanied by an excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Polyphenols are micronutrients with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, and may play an interesting role in the prevention of intestinal inflammation. Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) infusion is a popular herbal infusion rich in polyphenols (flavones and verbascoside).

Aims

This study evaluated the preventive effects of lemon verbena infusion consumption against mild-to-moderate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats.

Methods

Wistar rats drank water or lemon verbena infusion for 14 days. On day 15, half of the rats received DSS (4%) in their drink for 7 days. At the end of the experimental period, the colon was taken for histopathological examination and determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], glutathione reductase [GR], catalase [CAT]), glutathione and lipid peroxidation. Lymphocyte populations were determined in blood, mesenteric nodes and Peyer’s patches.

Results

Rats ingested daily 5.6 μmol of polyphenols. DSS reduced food intake and induced colitis, as reflected by histological lesions and increased MPO activity. Although these alterations were not significantly counteracted by lemon verbena consumption, the herbal infusion increased colonic SOD activity and decreased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde). Other oxidative stress markers (GPx, GR, CAT, glutathione) were not significantly modified.

Conclusion

Our study shows that the preventive consumption of lemon verbena infusion offered some antioxidative protection during experimental colitis by stimulating SOD activity and decreasing lipid peroxidation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by 3inature BIOSPHERE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie et Phytothérapie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Clermont Université, Université d’Auvergne, EA 4233, 28 place Henri Dunant, BP 10448, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Loïc Lenoir, Didier Fraisse, Odile Texier, Jean-Louis Lamaison & Catherine Felgines

  2. Laboratoire de Biochimie, Biologie Moléculaire et Nutrition, Clermont Université, Université d’Auvergne , EA 4233, BP 10448, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Adrien Rossary, Juliette Vergnaud-Gauduchon, Marie-Chantal Farges & Marie-Paule Vasson

  3. Service d’Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63003, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Juliette Joubert-Zakeyh

  4. 3inature BIOSPHERE (M. Dubourdeaux), Le Naturopôle, 03800, Saint-Bonnet-de-Rochefort, France

    Loïc Lenoir

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  1. Loïc Lenoir
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Lenoir, L., Rossary, A., Joubert-Zakeyh, J. et al. Lemon Verbena Infusion Consumption Attenuates Oxidative Stress in Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in the Rat. Dig Dis Sci 56, 3534–3545 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1784-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1784-x

Keywords

  • Lemon verbena
  • Polyphenols
  • Dextran sodium sulfate
  • Colitis
  • Oxidative stress
  • Rat