Restorative effects of Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng and Persicaria tinctoria extract on oxazolone-induced ulcerative colitis in mice

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the large intestine disease that results in chronic inflammation and ulcers in the colon. Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng extract (Rg3-RGE) is known for its pharmacological activities. Persicaria tinctoria (PT) is also used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the attenuating effects of Rg3-RGE with PT on oxazolone (OXA)-induced UC in mice. METHODS: A total of six groups of mice including control group, OXA (as model group, 1.5%) group, sulfasalazine (75 mg/kg) group, Rg3-RGE (20 mg/kg) group, PT (300 mg/kg) group, and Rg3-RGE (10 mg/kg) with PT (150 mg/kg) group. Data on the colon length, body weight, disease activity index (DAI), histological changes, nitric oxide (NO) assay, Real-time PCR of inflammatory factors, ELISA of inflammatory factors, Western blot, and flow cytometry analysis were obtained. RESULTS: Overall, the combination treatment of Rg3-RGE and PT significantly improved the colon length and body weight and decreased the DAI in mice compared with the treatment with OXA. Additionally, the histological injury was also reduced by the combination treatment. Moreover, the NO production level and inflammatory mediators and cytokines were significantly downregulated in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the model group. Also, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were suppressed in the combination treatment group compared with the OXA group. Furthermore, the number of immune cell subtypes of CD4(+) T-helper cells, CD19(+) B-cells, and CD4(+) and CD25(+) regulatory T-cells (Tregs) was improved in the Rg3-RGE with the PT group compared with the OXA group. CONCLUSION: Overall, the mixture of Rg3-RGE and PT is an effective therapeutic treatment for UC.