Cinnamon decreases fibrotic symptoms and markers in murine colitis. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Cinnamon reduces inflammatory response in intestinal fibroblasts in vitro and in colitis in vivo leading to decreased fibrosis.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2017 Mar 21. Epub 2017 Mar 21. PMID: 28324642
Yvonne Hagenlocher
Intestinal fibrosis, a complication of inflammatory bowel disease, is currently being addressed by surgery alone, with no adequate alternative therapy available for patients. We propose that anti-inflammatory plant substances like cinnamon extract (CE) or its main compound cinnamaldeyde (CA) could aid in therapy. We recently found CE reducing inflammation in murine colitis. Here, we analysed effects of CE on fibrosis in IL-10(-/-) colitis METHODS AND RESULTS: IL-10(-/-) and wild type (wt) mice were orally treated with/without vehicle or CE. Colonic tissue was analysed for collagen deposition and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Influence of CE or CA on expression and release of cytokines, and phosphorylation of IκB in LPS-activated fibroblasts were assessed. Fibrosis score and mRNA expression of MMPs were down-regulated in colonic tissue of CE-treated IL-10(-/-) mice. Fibroblasts treated with CE or CA showed reduced expression and release of IL-6, KC/C-X-C motif ligand (CXCL) 8, and C-C- motif ligand (CCL)2 in response to LPS-treatment. CE and CA appear to act via reducing phosphorylation of IκB CONCLUSIONS: Cinnamon decreases fibrotic symptoms and markers in murine colitis, and expression of inflammatory and fibrotic markers in hiFB. Thus, CE and CA could be potential anti-fibrotic agents in chronic colitis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.