Mechanisms underlying the potential usefulness of the herbal preparation STW 5 in an experimental model of Crohn's disease

The herbal preparation STW 5 is a standardized multi-component mixture of hydro-alcoholic extracts of bitter candytuft, lemon balm, chamomile, caraway fruit, peppermint leaf, Angelica root, milk thistle, celandine herb, and licorice root. It has been used successfully clinically in functional dyspepsia [1] and irritable bowel syndrome [2]. We have reported earlier on its efficacy in experimental dextran sodium sulfate induced colitis as a model for ulcerative colitis [3]. The present study was conducted to investigate underlying mechanisms involved in its use in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) induced…