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The effect of curcumin on the brain-gut axis in rat model of irritable bowel syndrome: involvement of 5-HT-dependent signaling

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Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is induced by dysfunction of central nervous and peripheral intestinal systems, which affects an estimated 10–15 % population worldwide annually. Stress-related psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety are often comorbid with gastrointestinal function disorder, such as IBS. However, the mechanism of IBS still remains unknown. Curcumin is a biologically active phytochemical presents in turmeric and has pharmacological actions that benefit patients with depression and anxiety. Our study found that IBS rats showed depression- and anxiety-like behaviors associated with decreased 5-HT (serotonin), BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and pCREB (phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein) expression in the hippocampus after chronic acute combining stress (CAS). However, these decreased parameters were obviously increased in the colonic after CAS. Curcumin (40 mg/kg) reduced the immobility time of forced swimming and the number of buried marbles in behavioral tests of CAS rats. Curcumin also decreased the number of fecal output and abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores in response to graded distention. Moreover, curcumin increased serotonin, BDNF and pCREB levels in the hippocampus, but they were decreased in the colonic of CAS rats. 5-HT1A receptor antagonist NAN-190 reversed the effects of curcumin on behaviors and the changes of intestine, pCREB and BDNF expression, which are related to IBS. These results suggested that curcumin exerts the effects on IBS through regulating neurotransmitters, BDNF and CREB signaling both in the brain and peripheral intestinal system.

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Acknowledgments

The authors do not have financial or personal conflicts of interest associated with this work.

The project was sponsored by the foundation of Science Technology Department of Zhejiang Province (No. 2012C33118) and Natural Science and Technology Foundation of Zhejiang Province (No. Y2110896).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Wenzhou No.3 Clinical Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou people’s hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325000, China

    Yingcong Yu, Jianxin Li & Liang Zheng

  2. Brain Institute, School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China

    Shujuan Wu, Xupei Xie, Xuefeng Yu & Jianchun Pan

  3. Taizhou Institute for Food and Drug Control, Taizhou, 318000, China

    Renye Wang

  4. Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA

    Ying Xu

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  1. Yingcong Yu
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Correspondence to Liang Zheng.

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Yu, Y., Wu, S., Li, J. et al. The effect of curcumin on the brain-gut axis in rat model of irritable bowel syndrome: involvement of 5-HT-dependent signaling. Metab Brain Dis 30, 47–55 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-014-9554-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-014-9554-z

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