Anti-colitic effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. juice via ERK/p38 and NF-κB signaling modulation and the characterization of a key marker compound.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (CA), a member of the Apiaceae family encompassing around 50 species, has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic and other folk medicine systems to manage inflammatory disorders.

Aim of study: This study explored the protective role of CA-Juice in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mouse model. In addition, a validated method for its quality evaluation was established.

Materials and methods: BALB/c mice were administered CA-Juice orally for two weeks prior to DSS induction of UC. An HPLC-UVD method was applied to quantify a marker compound for quality evaluation.

Results: CA-Juice was well tolerated and significantly improved clinical symptoms of UC. It modulated inflammatory mediators and enhanced intestinal immunoglobulin A levels, while improving epithelial integrity. Histological analysis confirmed that CA-Juice reduced colonic tissue damage and improved mucin production, as demonstrated through the modulation of ERK/p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. CA-Juice also elevated cecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, contributing to intestinal homeostasis. For standardization, an HPLC-UVD method was developed, showing high linearity, sensitivity, and specificity, and was applied to quantify miquelianin as a key marker compound in CA-Juice.

Conclusion: These findings support the potential of CA-Juice as a functional dietary component for preventing intestinal inflammation and provide foundational data for its standardization and future applications.