Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Neuracanthus Sphaerostachyus Dalz. Leaves on Experimental Colitis in Rats

essential ABSTRACT: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disorder with unknown etiology affecting the GI tract. Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus has been traditionally used for the treatment of skin diseases, cough, and asthma in various forms orally. Lack of sufficient scientific evidence indicating the utility of this plant in the treatment of ulcerative colitis prompted us to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the plant on experimental colitis in rats. In-vivo pharmacological screening method for evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of the methanolic and aqueous extract of Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus leaves at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg was assessed by TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis in Wistar rats. Colitis was induced by intra-rectal instillation of 10 mg of tri-nitro benzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) in 0.25 ml of 50% ethanol (v/v) followed by treatments with 7 d for various extracts and then animals were sacrificed to remove colon for histopathology, macroscopic scoring, and biochemical assays. The 7 d treatment with a methanolic and aqueous extract of Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus significantly improved feed intake and body weight with a decrease in macroscopical score, colonic MPO, LPO and, TNF-α. The findings from the histopathological study support the above results by its potential to protect the colonic mucosal damage. The present study exhibits anti-inflammatory potential of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus leaves in TNBS induced experimental colitis and it can be beneficial for patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. © 2020 iGlobal Research and Publishing Foundation. All rights reserved.