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Dietary Kaempferol Suppresses Inflammation of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 57, pages 355–363 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

In ulcerative colitis (UC), reduction of inflammation may represent a key mechanism in UC therapy, and anti-inflammatory agents would be good candidates for preventing UC. Kaempferol, a natural flavonoid, is believed to have anti-inflammatory activities and has been shown to be potentially immune-modulatory.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine whether kaempferol alleviates the inflammatory responses of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.

Methods

Female C57BL/6J mice were divided into six groups: a negative control group, a DSS control group, and DSS + 0.1% or 0.3% kaempferol pre- or post-fed groups. At the end of the experimental period, clinical and biochemical markers were evaluated.

Results

Plasma levels of NO and PGE2 were significantly decreased in both the 0.3% kaempferol pre- and post-fed groups. The plasma LTB4 level was profoundly decreased in all animals fed kaempferol. Colonic mucosa MPO activity was also suppressed in both the 0.3% kaempferol pre- or post-fed groups. TFF3 mRNA, a marker for goblet cell function, was up-regulated in kaempferol pre-fed animals.

Conclusions

These results indicate that kaempferol is an effective anti-inflammatory agent that protects colonic mucosa from DSS-induced UC. Dietary kaempferol fed prior to colitis induction was more effective to suppress some of the colitis-associated markers.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare Grant number A06-0546-AD-1101-06-N1-00020B and by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2010-0001886).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Food and Nutrition, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, 140-742, Korea

    Mi-Young Park & Mi-Kyung Sung

  2. Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Geun Eog Ji

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  1. Mi-Young Park
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Correspondence to Mi-Kyung Sung.

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Park, MY., Ji, G.E. & Sung, MK. Dietary Kaempferol Suppresses Inflammation of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice. Dig Dis Sci 57, 355–363 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1883-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1883-8

Keywords

  • Ulcerative colitis (UC)
  • Kaempferol
  • Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)
  • Inflammation