Elucidation of colon-protective efficacy of diosgenin in experimental TNBS-induced colitis: inhibition of NF-κB/IkB-α and Bax/Caspase-1 signaling pathways.

The aim of present investigation was to elucidate the unrevealed beneficial role of diosgenin against an experimental model of TNBS (2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesufonic acid)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Colitis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by intrarectal administration of TNBS (in 50% ethanol). Then animals were treated with diosgenin (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) for 14 days. Various biochemical, behavioral, molecular, and histological analysis was performed. Diosgenin significantly decreased (p < 0.05) TNBS-induced elevated colonic oxido-nitrosative damage, myeloperoxidase, hydroxyproline, mRNA expressions of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ) and inflammatory markers (iNOs and COX-2) induced by TNBS. Western blot analysis relevated that TNBS-induced up-regulated protein expressions of NF-κB, IκBα, Bax, and Caspase-1 were markedly decreased (p < 0.05) by diosgenin treatment. It also markedly ameliorated the histological insults induced in the colon by TNBS. In conclusion, diosgenin exerts its colon-protective efficacy probably through the inhibition of NF-κB/IkB-α and Bax/Caspase-1 signaling pathways to experimental TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis. ABBREVIATIONS: ANOVA: Analysis of variance; 5-ASA: 5-aminosalicylic acid; Bax: Bcl-2-associated X protein; COX-2: Cyclooxygenase-2; DAI: Disease Activity Index; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GSH: Glutathione; HP: Hydroxyproline; IAEC: International Animal Ethics Committee; IBD: Inflammatory Bowel Disease; IBS: Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome; IL's: Interleukin's; IFN-γ: Interferon-gamma; IκBα: nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor-alpha; iNOs: Inducible nitric oxide synthase; LTB4: Leukotriene B4; MDA: Malondialdehyde; MPO: Myeloperoxidase; NO: Nitric Oxide; NF-κB: Nuclear Factor-κB; ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species; SOD: Superoxide Dismutase; TNBS: Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α.