Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon characterized by excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and progressive mucosal damage. IL-36α, a member of the IL-1 cytokine family, plays an important role in amplifying inflammatory responses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of quinic acid (QA) and syringic acid (SA) on IL-36α levels in an experimental model of UC.
Materials and Methods: UC was induced in male Wistar rats by intrarectal administration of 4% acetic acid. The animals were divided into control, colitis, dexamethasone-treated, QA-treated (10, 30, 60, and 100 mg/kg), and SA-treated (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) groups. After 7 days of treatment, IL-36α levels in colon tissue were measured using ELISA.
Results: Induction of UC significantly increased IL-36α levels from 106.9 ± 8.69 pg/mL in the control group to 420.6 ± 59.50 pg/mL in the colitis group (P < 0.0001). Dexamethasone significantly reduced IL-36α levels to 108.7 ± 12.18 pg/mL (P < 0.0001). QA treatment resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in IL-36α levels, with values of 390.2 ± 47.72, 332.3 ± 72.49, 232.5 ± 60.57, and 170.7 ± 24.01 pg/mL at 10, 30, 60, and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, SA significantly decreased IL-36α levels to 355.4 ± 52.43, 306.8 ± 77.06, and 183.0 ± 33.70 pg/mL at 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg, respectively (P = 0.04, P=0.0001, and P<0.0001).
Conclusion: Both QA and SA exert significant anti-inflammatory effects in experimental UC and may modulate inflammatory responses through reducing IL-36α levels.
Original:
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Subject:
Microbiology and Immunology Received: 2026/05/19 | Accepted: 2026/07/14 | Published: 2026/07/29
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