Abstract
Although traditionally used to improve indigestion, diarrhea, dysentery, and constipation,
the therapeutic effects of Citrus aurantium on intestinal inflammation remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate
the beneficial effects and to identify the active components of a hydroalcoholic extract
of C. aurantium (HECA) on ulcerative colitis. HECA was prepared with 70% ethanol solution in water
and extracted at 37 °C for 12 h in triplicate, filtered through a sieve, and lyophilized.
Phytochemical identification of HECA was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-diode
array detector-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-MS/MS). Animals were randomly assigned
to one of four groups based on the treatment conditions. Ulcerative colitis was induced
by administration of 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water for 5 d.
Body weight, clinical signs, colon length, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression levels,
and histopathological findings were evaluated. In UPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis, the identified
phytochemical components of HECA included four alkaloids, seven coumarins, 18 flavonoids,
two lignans, two phenolics, and 10 terpenoids. HECA markedly protected against body
weight loss and colon shortening. In pathological examination, HECA alleviated DSS-related
mucosal inflammatory lesions in the colon. Moreover, HECA markedly reduced the expression
levels of interleukin-6, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in colonic inflammation. Taken together, HECA
has potential to relieve mucosal inflammation in the colon, suggesting that the putative
active ingredients are responsible for the anti-ulcerative effects.
Key words
Citrus x aurantium
- Rutaceae - ulcerative colitis - anti-inflammatory - dextran sulfate sodium - UPLC-DAD-MS/MS
