Attenuation of colonic injury and inflammation by administration of a phenolic extract of summer savory (Satureja hortensis l.) in experimental inflammatory bowel disease in mice

João Rocha, Raquel Leandro, Rosa Direito, Margarida Gonçalves, Maria Paula Duarte, Adelaide Fernandes, Bruno Sepodes, Maria Eduardo Figueira

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
23 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is a plant traditionally used as a food spice in the Mediterranean region. Surprisingly, not much is known about the health beneficial effects of its phenolic-rich extracts. The majority of publications have always focused on the properties of their essential oil. One of the main phenolic compounds of Summer Savory is rosmarinic acid, which has demonstrated anti-inflammatory outcomes in several animal models of inflammatory-mediated diseases. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, in addition to Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease, frequently related with increased morbidity and even mortality due to the complications associated, including colorectal cancer. Our work has shown, to our knowledge, for the first time, that administration of a phenolic extract of Summer Savory in a mouse model of Ulcerative Colitis led to the reduction of several markers for intestinal injury, including reduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2 or prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase) expression, two well-known mediators of tissue inflammation and progression to cancer and led also to a reduction of the mortality. Given the chemical constitution found in the extract and the preclinical evidence of a beneficial effect of polyphenols in inflammatory processes, an opportunity arises for pharmacological modulation of pathways relevant for IBD and progression to cancer with phenolic-rich extracts.

Original languageEnglish
Article number8465
Pages (from-to)1-19
Number of pages19
JournalApplied Sciences
Volume10
Issue number23
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2020

Keywords

  • Carrageenan-induced paw edema
  • Colitis
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Inflammation
  • Inflammatory bowel diseases
  • Satureja hortensis
  • Summer Savory
  • TNBS-induced colitis

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