Herbal Coltsfoot Protects Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Against the Risk of Colitis

By Kyle J. Norton

Colitis is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the inner lining of the colon.

The disease can be caused by infection, such as inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis(CD)), ischemic colitis, allergic reactions, and microscopic colitis.

Most cases of colitis are involved in the damage of the intestinal mucosal barrier, particularly to those of ulcerative colitis.

Epidemiologically, damage and a reduction of gut bacteria by dietary chemicals, such as antibiotics of the protective mucus layer and the underlying tissue by the poorly inactivated digestive proteases induced both UC and CD.

The intestinal mucosal barrier is the outermost inner layer of the lining of the intestines which plays an essential role to ensure the adequate containment of undesirable luminal contents within the intestine and preserves the ability to absorb nutrients.

Additionally, the intestinal mucosal barrier also processes various immunological mediators, including cytokines and chemokines stimulated by gut microbiota and host immune responses, thus maintaining a well-balanced relationship between gut microbes and the host immune system.

In other words, the intestinal mucosal barrier protects the colonic integrity by interacting with the gut microbiota and the immune response to prevent the inflammation of the colon that causes the onset of colitis.

Coltsfoot(Tussilago farfara) is a perennial herbaceous plant, genus Tussilago, belonging to the family Asteraceae, native to Europe and Asia. The herb has been used over thousands of year to treat asthma, various coughs, bronchial congestion, respiratory disorders, headaches and obstruction in the nasal passage, etc.

On finding a potential compound for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), researchers examined the anti-colitis effect of Tussilagone (TSL), a major component of Tussilago farfara.

On mice subjected to acute colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), tussilagone showed a significant protective effect by ameliorating weight loss, and colonic inflammatory damage.

Proteins associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines such as the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 and the activity of myeloperoxidase in colonic tissues were inhibited by tussilagone-treated mice. 

Furthermore, tussilagone treatment reduced the numbers of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in the induction of cytokines and increased the numbers of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) involved the production of antioxidant enzymes in nuclei of colonic tissues.

Based on the findings, researchers said, " tussilagone treatment attenuated DSS-induced colitis in mice through inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and inducing Nrf2 pathways, indicating that tussilagone is a potent therapeutic candidate for the treatment of intestinal ".

Taken altogether, coltsfoot may be considered a remedy for the treatment of colitis, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

How To Get Rid Of Eye Floaters 
Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally 

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You. How-To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Kyle J. Norton Homepage http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca


Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Tussilagone, a major active component in Tussilago farfara, ameliorates inflammatory responses in dextran sulphate sodium-induced murine colitis by Cheon HJ1, Nam SH1, Kim JK. (PubMed)