Healing Acceleration of Acetic Acid-induced Colitis by Marigold (Calendula officinalis) in Male Rats

Background/Aim:

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease with unknown etiology. Several therapeutic strategies such as consumption of medicinal plants have been used for its treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate healing effects of Calendula officinalis hydroalcoholic extract in experimentally induced UC in rat.

Materials and Methods:

Ninety-six rats, weighing 200 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into eight equal groups. UC induced by 3% acetic acid and oral doses of C. officinalis extract, 1500 and 3000 mg/kg, and enema (gel 10% and 20%) were given. Two groups as positive controls were given asacol (enema) and oral mesalamine. Negative control groups were given normal saline and base gel. On days 3 and 7, intestinal histopathology and weight changes, plus oxidative stress indices including malondialdehyde (MDA) level and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were assayed.

Results:

A significant increase in the body weight of rats was seen in the group given C. officinalis extract 3000 mg/kg orally, oral mesalamine, and 20% intracolonic gel form of marigold extract compared with negative control and base gel groups during the experimental period. Acute inflammation and granular atrophy after UC induction were resolved completely completely by both 20% intracolonic gel and 3000 mg/kg orally. An increase in MPO activity and a decrease in MDA level in response to oral and intracolonic gel form of C. officinalis were observed 3 and and 7 days after treatment (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that oral and enema forms of hydroalcoholic extract of C. officinalis can be offered as are potential therapeutic agents for UC induced in rats.Key Words: Histopathology, marigold, oxidative stress, ulcerative colitisUlcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. It is an interaction between including genetic, immunological, reactive oxygen species, and environmental factors, which affects the large intestine. It is clinically characterized by diarrhea, abdominal pain or rectal pain, fever, weight loss, and blood in the stool.[1] Although UC is most commonly detected in young adulthood,[2] the condition can affect patients of any age and both genders. Also this disease affects women slightly more than men.[3] Loftus et al. reported that the incidence of UC is about 10–20 per 10⁶ per year with a prevalence of 100–200 per 10⁶ in Western countries.[4] Overall, the rate of UC is higher in developed countries than in developing countries due to their lifestyle,[5] whereas it is increasing in Iran[6] and Taiwan.[7]It is suggested that environmental conditions are more effective than genetics. Other factors such as intestinal microflora, mucosal immune response, autoimmune reactions, and especially oxidative stress are also important in the pathophysiology of UC.[8] Medical and surgical therapies are the current modalities for treatment of UC, but surgery is indicated for those who are unresponsive to medical therapy. Although bacterial bowel flora such as Shigella, Clostridium difficile, and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 may be one of the contributing factors in the pathogenesis of chronic mucosal inflammation, antibiotics treatment has no established role in UC.[9]The use of no effectiveness of usual treatments, the use of alternative medicines, mainly of herbal treatments, for UC is increasing.[10] The effects of many medicinal plants in UC have been investigated in the past decades. These include Strawberry,[11] Vitex negund,[12] licorice,[13,14] Ginkgo biloba,[15] Oroxylum indicu,[1] Origanum onites,[16] and Calendula officinalis[17,18] in rats, Polygonum multiflorum in mice,[19] Fragaria vesca[20] and Moringa olifera in albino rats,[12] Teucrium polium[21] and Calendula Officinalis in dog,[22] and C. officinalis in mice.[23]C. officinalis, also known as Marigold, is an annual herb native to the Mediterranean region,[24] and an important medicinal plant in the family Asteraceae. In traditional medicine, it is used for the treatment of fever and cancer.[25] It is hypothesized to be effective in treating this disease due to its antioxidant[26,27,28] and anti-inflammatory[29,30] compounds. C. officinalis extract decreases lipid peroxidation and inhibits edema. It is also used for gastrointestinal,[28] gynecological, eye, and skin diseases.[31] The plant is rich in several pharmaceutically active ingredients such as sterols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and glycosides.[32]This study has been undertaken to compare the effects of oral and enema forms of hydroalcohol extract of C. Officinalis on improvement of acetic acid-induced UC in adult male rats.