Diammonium glycyrrhizinate nanoliposomes impede tumor necrosis factor-alpha pathway to affect oxidative stress response in rats with ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a inflammatory disease. Herein we explored the impact of diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG)- nanoliposomes on inflammation and oxidative stress in rats. DG-nanoliposomes were prepared, and the rats with UC were grouped into nanoliposome group, DG group, DG-nanoliposome group and blank group. Then we quantified the levels of IL-8, IL-6, IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and Lactoperoxidase (LPO) in rats from each group by tissue biochemistry staining, and the protein levels of NF-kappa B p65 were detected by Western Blot (WB). The drug-loading capacity and efficiency of DG-nanoliposomes were 27.0% and 52.0%, respectively. A significantly increased Zeta potential was recorded in the DG-nanoliposomes compared to the unloaded nanoliposomes (P < 0.05). The expression of IL-8, IL-6, IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and LPO in rats receiving DG-nanoliposome s were remarkably lower than those receiving other treatments (P < 0.05). A significant reduction of NF-kappa B p65 was detected in the samples from the DG-nanoliposome group compared to those receiving other treatments (P < 0.05). In this study, DG-nanoliposomes were prepared and used for UC treatment in rats. The results proved that DG-nanoliposomes can regulate oxidative stress by inhibiting the TNF-alpha signaling pathway. Eventually, TNF-alpha, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1 beta, LPO and NF-kappa B p65 in UC rats were reduced, thereby improving the curative effect of DG-nanoliposomes on UC rats. However, some potential limitations still exist in this study, including the insufficient sample size and the limitation of the animal experiment. Despite limitations, DG-nanoliposomes are still a promising strategy in the field of UC therapy with great potential for clinical translation.