Anti-inflammatory Effects of Co-treatment of Jingyoganghwaltang and Cheongsimhwan on Croton Oil Induced Hemorrhoid Model in Rats

Objectives : Hemorrhoids are one of the most common diseases in humans. Jingyoganghwaltang (JG) and Cheongsimhwan (CS) have been used for treating hemorrhoids in Korean traditional clinical practice. The present study was designed to evaluate the traditional effects of JG and CS on the experimental hemorrhoid model in rats. Methods : Hemorrhoids are closely related to inflammation. Accordingly, we examined the nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophage cell line in order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect. The expression levels of inflammation related genes including IL-1 beta, IL-6, INOS, and TNF-alpha were examined via a real-time quantitative PCR. Croton oil-induced hemorrhagic animal model was used to test the in vivo efficacy against hemorrhoids. The rectal tissues were weighed and the inflammatory proteins were measured to confirm the anti-inflammatory effects. Results : JG and CS have a statistically significant effect on inhibition of NO production and on the reduction of inflammatory gene expression such as IL-1 beta, IL-6, INOS, and TNF-alpha. The synergistic effects of co-treatment of JG and CS were found out in the IL-6 gene expression. The in vivo study using croton oil-induced hemorrhoid model in rat was performed to check the co-treatment effects. As a result, the co-treatment reduced the inflammation of the rectal tissue and decrease the inflammation related protein productions including ICAM1, MMP2 and MMP9. Conclusions : These results suggest that JG and CS co-treatment demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in croton oil-induced hemorrhoid model in rat.