Anti-inflammatory effect of apigenin and hydroalcoholic extract of Dracocephalum kotschyi on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats

Abstract

Colitis is an inflammatory disease of the intestine with unknown etiology involving multiple immune, genetic, and environmental factors. We were interested to examine the effect of total extract from Dracocephalum kotschyi (D. kotschyi) Boiss. on the experimental colitis. D. kotschyi hydroalcoholic extract (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) or apigenin (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) were administered orally 2 h prior to induction of colitis which was induced by intrarectal administration of acetic acid (4%) in rats. Prednisolone (4 m/kg) was used as the standard drug for comparison. Biochemical evaluation of inflamed colon was performed by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. After 5 days treatment, mucosal ulceration was evaluated. Intrarectal instillation of acetic acid caused significant inflammatory reactions as indicated by macroscopic and microscopic changes. The activity of MPO increased in vehicle treated groups while recovered to normal level by pretreatment of animals with D. kotschyi extract, apigenin, or prednisolone. D. kotschyi and apigenin-treated groups showed significantly lower score values of macroscopic and microscopic characters when compared with the vehicle-treated negative control group. The beneficial effect of apigenin was comparable with that of prednisolone. This research has shown the anti-inflammatory potential of D. kotschyi extract and apigenin in experimentally induced colitis.

Study of antispasmodic action of Lavandula angustifolia Mill hydroalcoholic extract on rat ileum

“…Apigenin has antidiarrheal activity and inhibits intestinal peristaltic movement and delays charcoal meal transit (47). Furthermore, apigenin profoundly reduces the inflammation due to acetic acid induced colitis (48). It has been reported that Lavender extract also possessed anti-inflammatory activities (10) and we have provided scientific evidence for antispasmodic action of Lavender extract.…”

Resveratrol modulates the gut microbiota to prevent murine colitis development through induction of Tregs and suppression of Th17 cells

“…Interestingly, we saw an increase in acetic acid in resveratrol treatment only after colitis induction, and this SCFA is often used to induce colitis. 67 It is possible that the increase in butyric acid was able to either negate the effects of increased acetic acid in our model. The uniqueness of our findings lie in the fact that we were able to show through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fecal transfer experiments that the effectiveness of resveratrol against colitis could be explained by the ability of this natural product to alter and reverse microbial dysbiosis and SCFA production to promote an anti-inflammatory effect (induction of Treg/IL-10) and suppress the inflammatory (Th1/Th17) T cell response, something that has not been reported in the literature thus far.…”

“…Therefore, the fact that resveratrol was able to increase production of this SCFA, particularly during colitis‐induced conditions, provides a better understanding of the mechanisms that promote its efficiency against colitis, as well as other inflammatory disorders. Interestingly, we saw an increase in acetic acid in resveratrol treatment only after colitis induction, and this SCFA is often used to induce colitis . It is possible that the increase in butyric acid was able to either negate the effects of increased acetic acid in our model.…”

Inhibitory effect of hydroalcoholic and flavonoids extracts of Dracocephalum kotschyi, and its components luteolin, apigenin and apigenin-4’-galactoside on intestinal transit in mice

“…In addition, D. kotschyi extract has been shown to reduce diarrhea induced in mice (26). Furthermore, it has been shown to have anti-colitis activity in animal model of colitis (12). Antispasmodic activity of D. kotschyi extract has been attributed to its flavonoids contents including luteolin and apigenin (20).…”

“…Hydroalcoholic extract of D. Kotschyi has spasmolytic activities on isolated ileum and uterus (10,11). In addition, D. kotschyi extract has also been shown to have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anti-colitis properties (12,13). It is believed that pharmacological effect of the extract is mainly due to presence of flavonoids constituents (14).…”