Amelioration of Acetic Acid-Induced Colitis in Rats by Oral Administration of Ginger Extract

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronically recurrent inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin. The aim of the present study is to evaluate possible protective effects of ginger extract (GE) on the extent and severity of UC causedby intracolonic administration of acetic acid in rats. Animals received either GE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) or sulphasalazine (500 mg/kg), for 3 consecutive days before intra-rectal acetic acid administration (1 ml, 4% v/v), and continued for another 7 days after the induction. The degree of tissue injuries was assessed by macroscopical and histopathological scores of the colonic mucosa. the biochemical studies involve the redox state including colon mucosal content of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an index of lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) and protein carbonyl content (PCO) as indexes of protein oxidation as well as the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes in addition to some indicators of the inflammatory response myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, index of neutrophilic infiltration, and the tissue contents of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and prostaglandin E2(PGE2). Oral pretreatment with ginger extract and sulphasalazine were able to correct altered parameters significantly. Moreover, ginger extract attenuated the macroscopic colonic damage and the histopathological changes-induced by acetic acid. These results suggest a beneficial protective effect of ginger extract against acetic acid-induced colitis possibly by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.