Jinghua Weikang capsule protects against Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammatory responses via the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway

Abstract OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibitory effect of Jinghua Weikang capsule (JWC) on gastric inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) via the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in Kunming mice. METHODS We investigated the anti-inflammation potential of JWC extract in vivo in a H. pylori-induced gastritis mouse model. The expression of inflammation-related molecules was evaluated by Western blotting, and the concentrations of in vivo inflammatory markers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inflammatory cell infiltration was evaluated by histopathological examination, and mRNA levels of related genes were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS JWC had a dose-dependent protective effect against H. pylori-induced gastritis by protecting gastric epithelial cells and inhibiting inflammatory cell infiltration. Mechanistically, JWC decreased the protein levels of phosphorylated IκBα and NF-κB p65, mRNA levels of NF-κB pathway molecules, and plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 1 beta. CONCLUSION An important finding of our study is that JWC attenuated gastrointestinal inflammation and ulceration and exerted a protective effect against gastric injury via inhibition of inflammation reactions and regulating the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway in vivo.