Curcumin and resveratrol suppress dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice

Curcumin and resveratrol are two natural products, which have been described as potential anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-oxidant molecules. The aims of the present study were to investigate the protective effect of curcumin and resveratrol on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice, in addition to understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms. In order to accomplish this, BALB/c mice received drinking water containing 3.5% DSS. Curcumin (50 mg/kg/day) or resveratrol (80 mg/kg/day) were administered orally for 7 days. Survival rate, body weight, disease activity index score, colon length, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the expression autophagy-associated proteins, and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) were measured. Curcumin or resveratrol treatment prolonged the survival of mice with UC, reduced body weight loss and attenuated the severity of the disease compared with the DSS-treated mice. This effect was associated with a substantial clinical amelioration of the disruption of the colonic architecture and a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Furthermore, curcumin or resveratrol significantly downregulated the expression of autophagy-related 12, Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 II, and upregulated the expression of phosphorylated mTOR and SIRT1 in the colon tissue, compared with those in the DSS-treated group. These results suggest that curcumin and resveratrol exert protective effects on DSS-induced UC, partially through suppressing the intestinal inflammatory cascade reaction, reducing autophagy and regulating SIRT1/mTOR signaling.