[Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its endophytes ameliorate trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced ulcerative colitis by modulating intestinal flora and Th17/Treg cell balance].

Ulcerative colitis(UC) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of the intestines that primarily involves the colonic mucosa. More serious adverse reactions often accompany drugs used clinically for the treatment of UC. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, as a traditional Chinese medicine in China, has pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, immune-regulating and antioxidant damage, which are very beneficial for the treatment of UC. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of action of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its endophytes in treating UC by regulating the intestinal flora and the balance of T-cell 17(Th17)/regulatory T-cells(Treg) by establishing a UC rat model. Sixty-four specific pathogen free(SPF) SD rats were selected to establish UC rat model using trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS) except for blank group, which was then randomly divided into model group, salicylazosulfapyridine group, licorice alcohol extract(LAE)-high,-medium, and-low dosage groups, lactobacillus rhamnosus group, and licorice endophyte(JTZB55) group, were given the appropriate drugs. The therapeutic effects of licorice and its endophytes were evaluated based on general condition, disease activity index(DAI) score, colon length, body weight, and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) stainning colon histopathological sections. Flow cytometry was used to detect Th17/Treg cell apoptosis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor(ROR-γt) and forkhead frameshift protein(Foxp3). And changes in intestinal flora were detected using 16S rRNA technology. The results showed that Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its endophytes could effectively alleviate the deterioration of TNBS-induced colitis. Among them, LAE and JTZB55 could play an immunomodulatory role by regulating cytokines [interleukin(IL)-6, IL-17A, IL-10] to restore the balance of TNBS-induced imbalance of Th17/Treg cells.16S rRNA assay showed that the intestinal flora structure of the UC rats after the treatment with LAE and JTZB55 was significantly improved. In conclusion, LAE and JTZB55 can inhibit inflammation, regulate the balance of Th17/Treg cells and improve the intestinal flora in UC rats, which can effectively alleviate TNBS-induced UC.