Foods (Nov 2022)

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects Induced by <i>Allium sativum</i> L. Extracts on an Ex Vivo Experimental Model of Ulcerative Colitis

  • Lucia Recinella,
  • Era Gorica,
  • Annalisa Chiavaroli,
  • Caterina Fraschetti,
  • Antonello Filippi,
  • Stefania Cesa,
  • Francesco Cairone,
  • Alma Martelli,
  • Vincenzo Calderone,
  • Serena Veschi,
  • Paola Lanuti,
  • Alessandro Cama,
  • Giustino Orlando,
  • Claudio Ferrante,
  • Luigi Menghini,
  • Simonetta Cristina Di Simone,
  • Alessandra Acquaviva,
  • Maria Loreta Libero,
  • Nilofar,
  • Luigi Brunetti,
  • Sheila Leone

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11223559
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 22
p. 3559

Abstract

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Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic and multifactorial inflammatory conditions of the colonic mucosa (ulcerative colitis), characterized by increased and unbalanced immune response to external stimuli. Garlic and its bioactive constituents were reported to exert various biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities. We aimed to evaluate the protective effects of a hydroalcoholic (GHE) and a water (GWE) extract from a Sicilian variety of garlic, known as Nubia red garlic, on an ex vivo experimental model of ulcerative colitis, involving isolated LPS-treated mouse colon specimens. Both extracts were able to counteract LPS-induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), and interleukin (IL)-6 gene expression in mouse colon. Moreover, the same extracts inhibited prostaglandin (PG)E2, 8-iso-PGF2α, and increased the 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/serotonin ratio following treatment with LPS. In particular, GHE showed a better anti-inflammatory profile. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects induced by both extracts could be related, at least partially, to their polyphenolic composition, with particular regards to catechin. Concluding, our results showed that GHE and GWE exhibited protective effects in colon, thus suggesting their potential use in the prevention and management of ulcerative colitis.

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