Possible protective effects of sulfasalazine on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats through its effect on oxidative stress and proinflammatory mediators

Abstract

There is no clear data addressing the role of oxidative stress and proinflammatory mediators in acetic acid (AA)-induced colitis model. This study was aimed to study the effect of sulfasalazine (SLZ) on AA-induced colitis in rats. Rats were allocated into 3 groups: group 1: control, group 2: AA group (received 1 ml 4% acetic acid transrectaly single dose at 13 th day), group 3: SLZ+AA group (recieved SLZ 250 mg/kg/day orally for 14 days and 1 ml 4% acetic acid transrectaly single dose at 13 th day). Rats were sacrificed after 2 weeks. The colonic oxidative damage and inflammatory effects of AA were evaluated by measuring colonic levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), histamine, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and histopathological assessment. Colitis induced by AA revealed statistically significant improvement in rats treated with SLZ compared with AA alone group. These results suggest that SLZ can protect against AA-induced colitis. SLZ effects rely, at least partially, on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.