Accili, Daniela

Gabrielli, Maria Gabriella

Mattioli, Laura

Perfumi, Marina

Polzonetti, Valeria

Titomanlio, Federica

Tomassoni, Daniele

Firenze University Press: E-Journals

IJAE Vol. 115, n. 1/2 (Supplement), 2010
167
Inflammatory bowel disease induced by intracolon 
instillation of acetic acid: screening study of the effects 
of different natural drugs
Daniele Tomassoni1, Maria Gabriella Gabrielli1, Laura Mattioli2, Federica Titomanlio2, Valeria Polzo-
netti1, Daniela Accili1, Marina Perfumi2
1 School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Italy
2 School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Italy
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, 
is an autoimmune disease associated with altered immunological response, genetic 
susceptibility and intestinal microflora disorders. The main clinical manifestations are 
abdominal pain, diarrhea, mucous bloody and purulent stools, recurrent attacks, and 
relapse. The mainstream treatment of patients with IBD has been the use of anti-inflam-
matory, immunomodulatory drugs and antibiotics to relieve the symptoms. However 
currently available drugs are not universally effective and cause considerable adverse 
effects particularly for long-term therapy. Therefore, there is a pressing need for research 
that leads to the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of IBD. 
In this context, as a phytotherapic approach, the effects of different plant extracts with 
anti-inflammatory properties were here investigated in a model of experimental colitis 
in rat. One hour after induction of colitis by intracolonal instillation of 4% (v/v) acetic 
acid, extracts of Coriandrum sativum L., Helichrysum italicum Dom., Aloe vera L., Cynara 
scolymus L., Zingiber officinalis Rosc., Boswellia carteri, Pistacia lentiscus L. (1000 mg/Kg) 
or dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), the last used as a reference drug, were orally adminis-
tered. Body weight changes, fecal boli, occurrence of diarrhoea and well-being of the 
animals were examined 24 hour after induction of colitis. The severity of colitis was as-
sessed by evaluating the macroscopic and microscopic changes of damaged colon and 
by the measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The analyses showed that the 
treatment with Coriandrum sativum L., Helichrysum italicum Dom., Aloe vera L., Cynara 
scolymus L., Zingiber officinalis Rosc. reduced ulceration and inflammation of colon and 
countered mieloperoxidase activity elevation. Moreover these extracts reduced micro-
scopic damage as indicated by the decrease of neutrophil infiltration. 
The present results point out a protective effect of these extracts in experimental rat 
colitis induced by intracolon instillation of acetic acid, a reliable model for screening 
agents to potential benefits in IBD. Further studies are needed to better characterize the 
effect and the possible mechanism(s) of action of these extracts. 
Key words
Inflammatory bowel disease, colon damage, natural drugs, morphology, histochemistry


Inflammatory bowel disease induced by intracolon instillation of acetic acid: screening study of the effects of different natural drugs

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Inflammatory bowel disease induced by intracolon instillation of acetic acid: screening study of the effects of different natural drugs

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