Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Kobophenol B Isolated from Carex pumila Thunb. in a DSS-Induced Colitis Mouse Model

Mi-Ra Lee; Bohye Kim; Hee-Jun Kim; Sangmi Jung; Moonjin Ra; Yongjun Lee

doi:10.22698/jales.20260005

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2026 Vol.38, Issue 1 Preview Page Next Page

Research Article

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Kobophenol B Isolated from Carex pumila Thunb. in a DSS-Induced Colitis Mouse Model

31 March 2026. pp. 59-71

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Abstract

The Cyperaceae family comprises a wide range of medicinal plants known for synthesizing diverse bioactive compounds that facilitate adaptation to extreme environments. Kobophenol B (KPB), a naturally occurring tetrastilbene, was isolated from the aerial parts of Carex pumila Thunb. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of KPB using in vitro and in vivo models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The identity and purity of KPB were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells, KPB significantly inhibited dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)- or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced reactive oxygen species generation and interleukin-8 secretion without causing cytotoxicity. A DSS-induced colitis model was established by administering 2.5% DSS in drinking water for 5 days. KPB was orally administered at doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg for 14 days. Compared with normal control mice, DSS-treated mice exhibited marked body weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stools, colon shortening, and elevated disease activity index scores. In contrast, KPB administration significantly ameliorated these clinical manifestations, alleviating splenomegaly and reducing colon weight per unit length. Additionally, KPB treatment led to marked decreases in the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and IL-22. Overall, these results demonstrate that KPB exerts protective effects in a DSS-induced colitis model and highlight its potential as a promising natural product-derived therapeutic candidate for the management of IBD.

Keywords

Carex pumila Thunb

Dextran sulfate sodium

Disease activity index

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory cytokine

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Information

Publisher :Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University
Publisher(Ko) :None
Journal Title :Journal of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
Volume : 38
No :1
Pages :59-71
Received Date : 2025-12-16
Revised Date : 2026-02-09
Accepted Date : 2026-02-14
DOI :https://doi.org/10.22698/jales.20260005

Journal of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences ISSN:2233-8322(Print) 2508-870X(Online)

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