Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disorder.
Sulfasalazine (SLZ) is a drug used for the management of UC. Lycopene (LC) is an
antioxidant carotenoid. Objective: to evaluate the protective efficacy of SLZ and LC
alone or in combination on acetic acid (AA) induced colitis. Material & methods: Fifty
adult male albino rats were randomly separated to 5 groups: Control group (I), group II
was given 2 mL of AA intra-rectally for induction of colitis. Group III was received SLZ
(100 mg/kg) for eight days by gastric tube. Group IV was given LC (10 mg/kg) for eight
days by gastric tube. Group V was received both SLZ and LC in same doses for 8days.
In III, IV& V groups; acetic acid was administered intra-rectally at the 8th day. Blood
samples and colon specimens were prepared for biochemical and histopathological
examinations.
Results: The induced colitis group (II) exhibited a sloughing of the surface
epithelium, disturbed crypt cells with pyknotic nuclei, and vacuolated cytoplasm, cellular
infiltration, submucosal odema ,a significant decrease alcian blue goblet cells and a
significant increase in TNF-α immune were observed .Scanning E/M revealed a
widening of the crypt openings and cracks in the surface epithelium. Administration of
SLZ and LC alone significantly ameliorate the biochemical and histopathological
changes, significantly increased the alcian blue goblet cells and significantly reduced
TNF-α immunoreactivity compared to group II. While the combination of SLZ and LC in
group V has better results than group III and IV.
Conclusion: Combination of SLZ and LC exhibited superior improvements in
biochemical, histological, and morphometric results compared to using each one alone
in protection from inducing colitis via their anti-inflammatory & anti-oxidative effects. |
