Cucurbitacin B alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut microbiota disorder in C57BL/6 mice

Abstract Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a triterpenoid compound derived from various medicinal plants, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties, as well as significant anti-tumor effects. However, its efficacy in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unclear...

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Main Authors: Jichen Li, Xiaodi Shen, Xia Wu, Fan Zhao, Wenling Tang, Minglan Wu, Fang Hu, Xingjiang Hu, Fei Wang, Qiao Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-07-01
Series:AMB Express
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-025-01922-5
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author Jichen Li
Xiaodi Shen
Xia Wu
Fan Zhao
Wenling Tang
Minglan Wu
Fang Hu
Xingjiang Hu
Fei Wang
Qiao Zhang
author_facet Jichen Li
Xiaodi Shen
Xia Wu
Fan Zhao
Wenling Tang
Minglan Wu
Fang Hu
Xingjiang Hu
Fei Wang
Qiao Zhang
author_sort Jichen Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a triterpenoid compound derived from various medicinal plants, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties, as well as significant anti-tumor effects. However, its efficacy in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unclear. To investigate the therapeutic potential of CuB, a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC model in mice was employed, along with gut microbiota analysis. The results revealed that CuB significantly alleviated clinical symptoms, improved colonic tissue damage, and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in colon tissues. Additionally, CuB was associated with changes in specific microbial populations, including the upregulation of Muribaculaceae, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Muribaculum, and Bifidobacterium, and the downregulation of Desulfovibrionaceae, Helicobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, Streptococcus, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, and Clostridium, which may contribute to the recovery of colon injury. This study provides preliminary evidence supporting CuB's therapeutic potential in DSS-induced colitis by enhancing gut microbiota diversity. CuB shows promise as potential treatment for UC and other conditions related to disruptions in intestinal flora homeostasis.
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spelling doaj-art-ec6d1e51144c4620a830f0deab79860b2025-08-20T03:06:08ZengSpringerOpenAMB Express2191-08552025-07-0115111210.1186/s13568-025-01922-5Cucurbitacin B alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut microbiota disorder in C57BL/6 miceJichen Li0Xiaodi Shen1Xia Wu2Fan Zhao3Wenling Tang4Minglan Wu5Fang Hu6Xingjiang Hu7Fei Wang8Qiao Zhang9Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Clinical Evaluation and Translational Research, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Drug Evaluation and Clinical Research, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicinePhase I Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine)Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Clinical Evaluation and Translational Research, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Drug Evaluation and Clinical Research, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Clinical Evaluation and Translational Research, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Drug Evaluation and Clinical Research, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineOffice of National Drug Clinical Trail Institution, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical UniversityZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Clinical Evaluation and Translational Research, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Drug Evaluation and Clinical Research, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicinePhase I Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine)Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Clinical Evaluation and Translational Research, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Drug Evaluation and Clinical Research, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicinePhase I Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine)Phase I Clinical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine)Abstract Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a triterpenoid compound derived from various medicinal plants, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties, as well as significant anti-tumor effects. However, its efficacy in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unclear. To investigate the therapeutic potential of CuB, a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC model in mice was employed, along with gut microbiota analysis. The results revealed that CuB significantly alleviated clinical symptoms, improved colonic tissue damage, and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in colon tissues. Additionally, CuB was associated with changes in specific microbial populations, including the upregulation of Muribaculaceae, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Muribaculum, and Bifidobacterium, and the downregulation of Desulfovibrionaceae, Helicobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, Streptococcus, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, and Clostridium, which may contribute to the recovery of colon injury. This study provides preliminary evidence supporting CuB's therapeutic potential in DSS-induced colitis by enhancing gut microbiota diversity. CuB shows promise as potential treatment for UC and other conditions related to disruptions in intestinal flora homeostasis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-025-01922-5Cucurbitacin BMicrobiotaUlcerative colitisDextran sulfate sodium
spellingShingle Jichen Li
Xiaodi Shen
Xia Wu
Fan Zhao
Wenling Tang
Minglan Wu
Fang Hu
Xingjiang Hu
Fei Wang
Qiao Zhang
Cucurbitacin B alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut microbiota disorder in C57BL/6 mice
AMB Express
Cucurbitacin B
Microbiota
Ulcerative colitis
Dextran sulfate sodium
title Cucurbitacin B alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut microbiota disorder in C57BL/6 mice
title_full Cucurbitacin B alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut microbiota disorder in C57BL/6 mice
title_fullStr Cucurbitacin B alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut microbiota disorder in C57BL/6 mice
title_full_unstemmed Cucurbitacin B alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut microbiota disorder in C57BL/6 mice
title_short Cucurbitacin B alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut microbiota disorder in C57BL/6 mice
title_sort cucurbitacin b alleviates dss induced ulcerative colitis by improving gut microbiota disorder in c57bl 6 mice
topic Cucurbitacin B
Microbiota
Ulcerative colitis
Dextran sulfate sodium
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-025-01922-5
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