Anti-inflammatory effects of methanolic extract of green algae Caulerpa mexicana in a murine model of ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are characterized bychronic and relapsed gut inflammation. Caulerpa mexicana is a type of green marine algae that can befound in tropical areas, such as the Brazilian Coastland. These macrophytes exhibit in vitro and in vivoanti-inflammatory properties such as the ability to reduce both cell migration to different sites and edemaformation induced by chemical irritants. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the C. mexicanamethanolic extract on the treatment of colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate. Acute experimentalcolitis was induced in BALB/c mice by treatment with 3% dextran sodium sulfate orally for 14 days. Duringthis 14-day period, C. mexicana methanolic extract (2 mg/kg/day) was given intravenously on alternatedays. Treatment with the methanolic extract significantly attenuated body weight loss and severe clinicalsymptoms. This was associated with a remarkable amelioration of colonic architecture disruption anda significant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine production. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory action of C. mexicana methanolic extract on colorectal sites may be a useful therapeuticapproach for inflammatory bowel diseases.