Curcumin prevents and ameliorates trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid–induced colitis in mice

Background & Aims: Curcumin is known to have a variety of pharmacologic effects, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-infectious activities. The pleiotropic effects of curcumin are attributable at least in part to inhibition of transcriptional factor nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). However, the effect of curcumin on intestinal inflammation has hitherto not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment with curcumin prevents and ameliorates colonic inflammation in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Mice with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis were treated with 0.5%, 2.0%, or 5.0% curcumin in the diet, and changes in body weight together with histologic scores were evaluated. Colonic T-cell subsets were characterized, and NF-κB in colonic mucosa was detected by immunohistochemistry. NF-κB activity in the colonic mucosa was evaluated using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Cytokine messenger RNA expression in colonic tissue was assessed by semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Treatment of mice with curcumin prevented and improved both wasting and histopathologic signs of TNBS-induced colonic inflammation. Consistent with these findings, CD4+ T-cell infiltration and NF-κB activation in colonic mucosa were suppressed in the curcumin-treated group. Suppression of proinflammatory cytokine messenger RNA expression in colonic mucosa was also observed. Conclusions: This study has shown for the first time that treatment with curcumin can prevent and improve murine experimental colitis. This finding suggests that curcumin could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;123:1912-1922