Beneficial Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on Acetic Acid-Induced Colitis in Rats

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory bowel disease in which oxidative stress has been implicated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible protective effects of N-acetylcysteine against acetic acid-induced colitis in a rat model. Rats were administered intrarectal saline (control group) or acetic acid (colitis model group). Rats with acetic acid-induced colitis were treated by intraperitoneal or intrarectal administration of N-acetylcysteine (500 mg/ kg) (treated group). Another series of rats were pre-treated by intraperitoneal or intrarectal administration of N-acetylcysteine, then administered intrarectal acetic acid (pre-treated group). The degree of tissue injuries was assessed by macroscopical and histopathological scores of the colonic mucosa. Malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels were measured in tissue extracts of the dissected colon. Administration of N-acetylcysteine intraperitoneally or intrarectally ameliorated macroscopic score alterations produced by acetic acid in treated groups. In addition, microscopical improvement was observed in all N-acetylcysteine-treated rats compared to untreated animals with colitis. In the colonic tissues of the acetic acid-induced colitis, myeloperoxidase activity and malondialdehyde levels were elevated, while the reduced glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were decreased. However, intraperitoneal or intrarectal treatment with N-acetylcysteine reversed these parameters, compared to the untreated colitis group. Notably, intrarectal administration of N-acetylcysteine elevated the reduced glutathione levels more markedly compared to the other treatment groups. Superoxide dismutase levels were increased in intraperitoneally or intrarectally N-acetylcysteine-treated groups significantly compared to the control, colitis and pre-treated groups. But there was no significant increase in catalase activity. In conclusion, N-acetylcysteine could be beneficial as a complementary agent in treatment of ulcerative colitis.N-acetylcysteine; colitis; reactive oxygen species; acetic acid; GSH

Evaluation of topical n-acetylcysteine in diversion colitis

“…When considering that the use of substances with antioxidant activity can neutralize the harmful effects of OFRs, it becomes an interesting strategy for the treatment of diseases related to oxidative stress. Studies conducted in experimental models of chemically induced colitis confirmed the beneficial effects of antioxidants, improving the inflammatory process of colonic mucosa [27][28][29][30][31] . Several drugs have been tested with effective results in experimental conditions, including 5-ASA, glucocorticoids, L-carnitine, L-glutamine, melatonin and antioxidants found in the aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis and Curcuma longa [33][34][35][36][37][38][39] .…”

“…It is filterable and easily crosses the cellular membranes, with easy access to different intracellular compartments 29 . NAC has been used as an antioxidant both in vivo and in vitro, in different situations 29,30 and it has been used in clinical practice to treat several diseases, including pulmonary disorders caused by excess oxygen, against the paracetamol toxic effects, infection of human immunodeficiency virus, and the treatment of disorders caused by ischemia in liver, lungs and skin flaps 37,40,41 . The possibility of different pharmacological applications is regulated by the chemical properties of the group of thiol-cysteine molecules to eliminate OFRs 30 .…”

“…N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a substance with recognized antioxidant activity both in vitro and in vivo [28][29][30] , which has been used in the treatment of different inflammatory diseases. Studies that analyzed forms of chemically induced colitis showed that NAC improves the inflammatory process by removing OFRs created during the cellular energy metabolism 28,30 .…”

“…Studies that analyzed forms of chemically induced colitis showed that NAC improves the inflammatory process by removing OFRs created during the cellular energy metabolism 28,30 . The application of enemas with NAC was able to reduce inflammation in colitis induced by dextran sulfate (DSS) and acetic acid after removing OFRs and increasing the antioxidant activity of colonic mucosa [28][29][30][31] . However, despite the therapeutic effectiveness of NAC in chemically induced colitis, its effects have never been tested in forms of DC.…”

N-acetylcysteine and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate: immunomodulatory effects on mononuclear cell culture

“…NAC has been widely used both in vitro and in vivo as an antioxidant (6) . It is also efficient in the treatment of some pharmacological overdoses, as in the one caused by paracetamol (28) .…”