Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of apiin on intestinal health in mice with colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Methods: Thrity male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal, model and apiin groups. The normal and model group were given the AIN93G diet alone, and the apiin group was given the same diet supplemented with apiin (0.016 7%) throughout the whole course. After feeding for seven days, the drinking water of the model and apiin groups was switched to sterile water containing 3% DSS to induce colitis. After six days of treatment, DSS was stopped, and the mice were sacrificed 24 hours later. Food intake and body mass of the mice were observed and recorded every day, and disease activity index (DAI) and spleen index were calculated at the end of the experiment. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in serum and the activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and inducable nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in colonic tissues were determined. The colonic pathology and the number of goblet cells were observed. Results: Apiin significantly alleviated body mass loss (P < 0.05), decreased DAI (P < 0.001) and spleen index (P < 0.001), and reduced the contents of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (P < 0.001) and IL-6 (P < 0.01) in the serum of mice with colitis. In addition, apiin significantly improved colon shortening (P < 0.01), and amelioratesd colonic tissue injury and inflammatory infiltration in mice with colitis. Apiin also significantly decreased the activity of MPO (P < 0.001) and iNOS (P < 0.001), significantly increased the number of goblet cells (P < 0.05), promoted mucus secretion, and maintained the integrity of intestinal barrier function. Conclusion: A dose of 25 mg/kg mb of apiin could alleviate DSS-induced colitis in mice.

Key words: apiin; dextran sulfate sodium; colitis