Targeting Colon Drug Delivery by Natural Products

Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) classified with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn Dis‐ ease (CD) is an idiopathic, life-long, destructive chronic inflammatory disease in gastrointes‐ tinal tract [1] and probably multi-factorial disease caused by interplay of the external and internal environment. Little is known about the mechanism of pathogenesis of the disease but it has been reported that immunological mechanisms are involved in etiology. Under normal situations, the intestinal mucosa is in a state of controlled inflammation regulated by a delicate balance of pro-inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interferon [IFN]gamma, interleukin [IL]-1, IL-6, IL-12 and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, IL-11), where particularly, IL-6 stimulates T-cell and B-cell proliferation and differentiation.