Potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of hyphaena thebaica in experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Aim: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic recurrent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of unknown origin. Oxidative stress is believed to be a key factor in the pathogenesis and perpetuation of the mucosal damage in IBD. The aqueous extract of Hyphaena thebaica fruits showed an antioxidant activity. This study was undertaken to study the effect of Hyphaene thebaica in experimentally induced IBD & to find its probable mechanism of action. Materials and Methods: Sprague Dawely rats were pretreated orally for 5 days with 3% gum acacia in control, Hyphaena thebaica 500 mg/kg in test and 5-aminosalisylic acid (5-ASA) 100 mg/kg in standard groups. Colitis was induced by transrectal administration of 4% acetic acid on 5th day. All the animals were sacrificed with ether overdose 48 hours after colitis induction, and 10 cm colon segment was dissected from proximal end. Colon was weighed (for disease activity index) and scored macroscopically and microscopically after histological staining. Biochemical assessments included myeloperoxidase (MPO) & tissue catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) measurements. Results: Hyphaena thebaica showed significant (P < 0.05) prevention of increase in colon weight and disease activity index along with decrease in macroscopic and microscopic lesion score as compared to control group. Significant improvement was observed in the levels of MPO, CAT and SOD, except GSH (P <0.05). However, the effect of Hyphaena thebaica was significantly less than 5-ASA (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Hyphaena thebaica showed significant amelioration of experimentally induced IBD, which may be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.