Dersalazine (Dersalazine Free Base), an inhibitor of platelet-activating factor, exerts intestinal anti-inflammatory activity in different rodent types of colitis by down-regulating IL-17 expression, with potential efficacy in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Dersalazine sodium (DS) (10 or 30 mg/kg; b.i.d.; rats), when administered for 7 days, showed intestinal anti-inflammatory effects in TNBS-induced colitis; these effects were observed both macroscopically and through the profile of inflammatory mediators (TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17). Although the 2 day treatment with DS did not induce intestinal anti-inflammatory effects, it was sufficient to reduce the enhanced IL-17 expression. DS showed beneficial effects on DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice and reduced colonic pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17.[2]