Compound spleen-tonifying composition alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in rats

Figure 1 Effect of compound spleen-tonifying composition on the symptoms of ulcerative colitis in rats. A and E: Changes in body weight; B and F: Colon length; C and G: Bloody stools score; D and H: Disease activity index score; n = 8. ^aP < 0.05, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) group vs control group; ^bP < 0.05, positive group vs DSS group; ^cP < 0.05, compound spleen-tonifying composition (CSTC) high dose group vs DSS group; ^dP < 0.05, CSTC medium dose group vs DSS group; ^eP < 0.05, ethyl acetate group vs DSS group; ^fP < 0.05, N-butanol vs DSS group. DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; CSTC-H: Compound spleen-tonifying composition high dose; CSTC-M: Compound spleen-tonifying composition medium dose; CSTC-L: Compound spleen-tonifying composition low dose; DAI: Disease activity index.

Figure 2 Effects of compound spleen-tonifying composition and its extract on histological changes. A: Hematoxylin-eosin staining of colon tissue from compound spleen-tonifying composition (CSTC), chloroform extract, petroleum ether extract, ethyl acetate extract, and n-butanol extract groups (× 200); B: Histopathological scores of colonic tissues; n = 8. ^aP < 0.05, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) group vs control group; ^bP < 0.05, positive group vs DSS group; ^cP < 0.05, CSTC high dose group vs DSS group; ^dP < 0.05, CSTC medium dose group vs DSS group; ^eP < 0.05, ethyl acetate group vs DSS group; ^fP < 0.05, N-butanol vs DSS group. DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; CSTC-H: Compound spleen-tonifying composition high dose; CSTC-M: Compound spleen-tonifying composition medium dose; CSTC-L: Compound spleen-tonifying composition low dose.

Figure 3 Effect of compound spleen-tonifying composition and its extracts on the expression of tight junction protein in the colon of dextran sulfate sodium-induced rats. A and C: Zonula occludens-1 mRNA expression; B and D: Occludin mRNA expression; n = 8. ^aP < 0.05, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) group vs control group; ^bP < 0.05, positive group vs DSS group; ^cP < 0.05, compound spleen-tonifying composition (CSTC) high dose group vs DSS group; ^dP < 0.05, CSTC medium dose group vs DSS group; ^eP < 0.05, ethyl acetate group vs DSS group; ^fP < 0.05, N-butanol vs DSS group. ZO-1: Zonula occludens-1; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; CSTC-H: Compound spleen-tonifying composition high dose; CSTC-M: Compound spleen-tonifying composition medium dose; CSTC-L: Compound spleen-tonifying composition low dose.

Figure 4 Effects of compound spleen-tonifying composition and extract parts on colon oxidative stress indexes in dextran sulfate sodium-induced rats. A: Glutathione peroxidase content; B: Superoxide dismutases content; C: Malondialdehyde content; D: Myeloperoxidase content; n = 8. ^aP < 0.05, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) group vs control group; ^bP < 0.05, positive group vs DSS group; ^cP < 0.05, compound spleen-tonifying composition (CSTC) high dose group vs DSS group; ^dP < 0.05, CSTC medium dose group vs DSS group. GSH-px: Glutathione peroxidase; SOD: Superoxide dismutases; MDA: Malondialdehyde; MPO: Myeloperoxidase; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; CSTC-H: Compound spleen-tonifying composition high dose; CSTC-M: Compound spleen-tonifying composition medium dose; CSTC-L: Compound spleen-tonifying composition low dose.

Figure 5 Effects of compound spleen-tonifying composition and extract parts on colon inflammation in dextran sulfate sodium-induced rats. A: Tumor necrosis factor-α content; B: Interleukin-6 content; C: Interleukin-1β content; n = 8. ^aP < 0.05, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) group vs control group; ^bP < 0.05, positive group vs DSS group; ^cP < 0.05, compound spleen-tonifying composition (CSTC) high dose group vs DSS group; ^dP < 0.05, CSTC medium dose group vs DSS group. TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-6: Interleukin-6; IL-1β: Interleukin-1β; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; CSTC-H: Compound spleen-tonifying composition high dose; CSTC-M: Compound spleen-tonifying composition medium dose; CSTC-L: Compound spleen-tonifying composition low dose.

Figure 6 The effects of extracts from different polar solvents of compound spleen-tonifying composition on dextran sulfate sodium induced oxidative stress and inflammation in the colon of rats. A: Glutathione peroxidase content; B: Superoxide dismutases content; C: Malondialdehyde content; D: Myeloperoxidase content; E: Tumor necrosis factor-α content; F: Interleukin-6 content; G: Interleukin-1β content; n = 8. ^aP < 0.05, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) group vs control group; ^bP < 0.05, ethyl acetate group vs DSS group; ^cP < 0.05, N-butanol vs DSS group. GSH-px: Glutathione peroxidase; SOD: Superoxide dismutases; MDA: Malondialdehyde; MPO: Myeloperoxidase; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-6: Interleukin-6; IL-1β: Interleukin-1β; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium.