Protective effect of 4-methoxy-5-hydroxycanthin-6-one, a natural alkaloid, on dextran sulfate sodium-induced rat colitis.

In the present study, we evaluated the effect of 4-methoxy-5-hydroxycanthin-6-one (CAN), a natural alkaloid isolated from Picrasma quassioides (D.Don) Benn., on ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats in comparison with the positive control drug, sulfasalazine (SASP). Given orally for several days, CAN significantly reduced the severity of colitis and mitigated changes in colon length, colon mucosa myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in serum. The effect of CAN was similar to that of SASP. These results suggest that CAN treatment might be an effective therapeutic intervention against ulcerative colitis induced by DSS.