Peanut shell extract inhibits the development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) induce inflammation in the colon and small intestine. IBD include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, with such common symptoms as severe diarrhea, fever, and blood in the stool. In the current study, we explored the ability of peanut shell extract (PSE) to alleviate IBD in an experimental colonic inflammation model. Colitis was induced by orally administered dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice. Peanut shell extract was prepared using a method of aqueous ethanol. DSS treatment reduced the colon length and mouse body weight, and aggravated disease condition compared with untreated control mice. Oral administration of 400 mg/kg PSE alleviated colon shortening, body weight loss, DAI, and colon injury score in DSS-induced colitis. These physiological improvements were validated by reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines and infiltrating macrophage accumulation in the inflamed colon in the PSE administered group. These observations suggest that PSE may be developed as an alternative natural extract for the prevention or treatment of IBD. •PSE decreases colon shortening, body weight loss, and DAI in DSS-induced colitis.•PSE improves the colonic histopathological score in DSS-induced colitis.•PSE reduces the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in inflamed colon.•PSE prevents infiltration of macrophages in a DSS-induced colitis model.