Licorice protects against ulcerative colitis via the Nrf2/PINK1‐mediated mitochondrial autophagy

PURPOSE: Study of the effects and mechanisms of licorice in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) from the perspective of mitochondrial autophagy. METHODS: BALB/C mice were induced with 3% dextran sodium sulfate to build an animal model of UC. After 7 days of modeling, different doses of licorice were administered for 7 days. Hematoxylin and eosin staining is used to detect pathological changes in the colon. Mitochondrial membrane potentials and reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents were detected by flow cytometry, and autophagy of mitochondria was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Determination of inflammatory cytokines by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The oxidizing factors are detected by the kits. Western blot analysis was used to detect expressions for nuclear factor called erythropoietin (Nrf2), pten‐induced protein kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin, HO‐1, P62, and LC3. RESULTS: Licorice improved the pathological condition of UC mice, increasing the mitochondrial membrane potential and decreasing the ROS content. Promotes the emergence of autophagosomes and autophagosomes. The contents of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐17, and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha were downregulated, the contents of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were upregulated and the contents of malondialdehyde were downregulated. In addition, licorice promotes the expression of Nrf2, PINK1, Parkin, HO‐1, P62, and LC3. CONCLUSION: Licorice was shown to reduce levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress in mice with UC, possibly by promoting mitochondrial autophagy through the activation of the Nrf2/PINK1 pathway.