Protective effects of ethanolic extract of ageratum conyzoides on experimental induced inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is classified into two subtypes: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. There is a widespread belief that the herbal products have fewer side effects when compared to allopathic medicine and there are numerous herbal drugs which are contemporarily used in the treatment of IBD. Ageratum conyzoides Linn. (Family: Asteraceae) is an annual herb which has been considered in traditional medicine and mainly used in treatment of ulcers, colic, inflammation and analgesia. Ageratum conyzoides is also scientifically accepted for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, gastro protective activities. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Ageratum conyzoides on acetic acid-induced colitis and indomethacin-induced enterocolitis models in rats. The parameters studied includes macroscopic evaluation (scoring of ulcers), microscopic evaluation (histopathology), estimation of biochemical parameters (myeloperoxidase and lipid peroxides) and measurement of physical parameters (change in body weight and colon weight). The pretreatment with ethanolic extract of Ageratum conyzoides at a dose of 500 and 750 mg kg-1, p.o. (per oral) and standard group of animals shows significant attenuated results in all above said parameters when compared to disease inducing group. Histopathological study supports the above results by protective and regeneration effects on colonic cells by Ageratum conyzoides pretreatment. The finding of the present study provides the evidence that, ethanolic extract of Ageratum conyzoides maybe beneficial in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. © 2011 Academic Journals Inc.