Liriodendron attenuates intestinal fibrosis and inflammation in mice with radiation proctopathy

Radiotherapy is a routinely therapeutic approach for malignant tumors in the abdomen. Nevertheless, radiation proctopathy is the main side effects that occur during radiotherapy and there are scarce pharmaceutical interventions available. In this study we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Liriodendron, a primary extract used in traditional Chinese medicine Fibraureae Caulis, on the prevention and treatment of radiation proctopathy. We created a mouse model of radioactive proctopathy by local irradiation and analyzed various clinicopathologic measures for the subsequent eight weeks. We found that Liriodendron gavage group and Liriodendron enema groupwith radiation proctopathy resulted in a reduction in the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an increase in the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines by transcriptome sequencing analysis and ELISA examination. Additionally, Liriodendron administration resulted in a reductionin the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic cells in intestinal tissue of mice. MASSON staining and immunohistochemistry revealed that Liriodendron could reduce the expression of α-SMA in rectal tissue and the level of intestinal fibrosis in mice with radiation proctopathy. In conclusion, this study suggests that Liriodendron has the potential to be used as a medication for treating radiation proctopathy.