Effect of Dendrobium Officinale Polysaccharide on the Prevention of Chemotherapy-induced Intestinal Mucositis

PurposeTo investigate the preventive effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides on the chemotherapeutic intestinal mucositis (CIM) in mice induced by 5-FU.

MethodsForty healthy male Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group, CIM model group (intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU 130 mg/kg), low, medium, and high-dose groups of D. officinale polysaccharide (50, 100, 200 mg/kg, respectively, once a day for 2 weeks, after 24 hours, mice were intraperitoneally injected with 5-FU 130 mg/kg, once a day, for 2 days). The weight changes of mice were observed. The mice were killed 48 hours after 5-FU was injected intraperitoneally. The morphology of small intestine was evaluated and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the small intestine was detected. The expression of ZO-1, Occludin, IL-1β and TNF-α were detected test.

ResultsCompared with CIM model group, the middle dose of D. officinale polysaccharide (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced the weight change of mice (P<0.05), increased the villi length, decreased the crypt depth, increased the ratio of villi length to crypt depth, increased the expression of PCNA in small intestine, increased the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin mRNA in intestinal barrier, and inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α.

ConclusionDendrobium officinale polysaccharides can prevent chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis caused by 5-FU.