해대(海帶) 추출물이 Dextran Sulfate Sodium로 유발된 대장염 동물모델에 미치는 치료 및 예방적 효과

Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is chronic inflammatory disorders of the intestines. Due to limitation of conventional treatment including steroids, herbal medicines have emerged as possible therapeutic options for IBD. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the therapeutic and prophylactic effects and mechanisms of Zostera Marina water extract (ZME) on DSS-induced colitis. Methods: Colitis was induced by DSS in Balb/c mice. In pre-treatment setting, ZME was administered 7 days before DSS treatment and in co-treatment setting, ZME was simultaneously administrated with DSS treatment. In both settings, ZME 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg were orally administered twice a day, respectively. Mice weight and clinical findings were measured daily. Colon length, macroscopic findings and histological damages of colon mucosa were assessed at the end of experiments. The levels of cytokines including TNF-${\alpha}$, IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 were measured by Biometric Multiplex Cytokine Profiling method. Results: In a dose dependent manner, ZME significantly inhibited the colon shortening, and improved macroscopic score and histological score. However, there were insignificant changes on inhibition of weight loss and improvement of clinical score. There were no significant differences of effects between co-treatment and pre-treatment settings. ZME 300 and 1000 mg/kg groups significantly inhibited IFN-${\gamma}$. Only ZME 1000 mg/kg group significantly inhibited TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. Conclusions: The current results show the possibility of therapeutic use and its prophylactic application of ZME on inflammatory bowel diseases. Future studies for targeted mechanisms of ZME are needed.