Glycyrrhizin enhances therapeutic activity of a colon-specific methylprednisolone prodrug against experimental colitis

Yonghyun Lee, Seongkeun Jeong, Wooseong Kim, Hyunjeong Kim, Jeong Hyun Yoon, Seong Hoon Jeong, Yunjin Jung

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8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Co-administration of a reduction inhibitor and a colon-specific prodrug of a glucocorticoid susceptible to colonic reductive metabolism is suggested as a strategy to circumvent the therapeutic loss of the glucocorticoid delivered to and acting locally at the large intestine. Aims: We examined whether the strategy was feasible as a pharmacotherapy for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Glycyrrhizin (GCZ), a reduction inhibitor, was tested for its inhibition of the colonic metabolism of methylprednisolone (MP). Therapeutic activity against TNBS-induced rat colitis and adrenal suppression were compared after oral administration of methylprednisolone 21-sulfate sodium (MPS), a colon-specific prodrug of MP, or MPS/GCZ to colitic rats. Results: Upon incubation of MP with the cecal contents, MP disappeared, and this was delayed by addition of GCZ. In addition, more MP produced from MPS in the cecal contents accumulated in the presence of GCZ. Consistent with these results, upon oral administration of MPS/GCZ, MPS or MP, MP was detected at a greater level in the large intestine for MPS/GCZ. MPS/GCZ ameliorated TNBS-induced colitis of rats, and this therapeutic effect was superior to that of MPS and MP. Moreover, MPS/GCZ decreased the plasma levels of corticosterone and ACTH to a greater extent than MPS, but less than MP. Conclusions: Co-administration of GCZ, a reduction inhibitor, may be a plausible strategy to reduce the therapeutic loss of MP produced from MPS in the large intestine, thus improving the therapeutic property of the prodrug against inflammatory bowel disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1226-1234
Number of pages9
JournalDigestive Diseases and Sciences
Volume58
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments This work was supported by the Bio-Scientific Research Grant funded by Pusan National University (PNU, BioScientific Research Grant) (PNU-2008-101-209).

Keywords

  • Colitis
  • Colon-specific prodrug
  • Colonic metabolism
  • Glycyrrhizin
  • Methylprednisolone

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