Effects of jujube fruit extract on acetic acid-induced colitis in adult male rats

Background: Gut health is the most important factor for a healthy life. A large number of people are suffering from gut associated diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease is the general medical terminology for chronic inflammatory illness of unknown origin. Experimental colitis induced by acetic acid has been used extensively as a model for intestinal inflammatory disease. Aim of the work: This study aims to assess the effect of jujube fruit extract on the histological integrity of colon, in a rat model of acetic acid-induced colitis. Materials and Methods: Experimental colitis was induced under light ether anesthesia by intrarectal administration of 1 ml of 4% acetic acid (AA) in male albino rats, Control rats received an equal volume of saline intrarectally. Experimental rats were treated orally with jujube fruit extract (1 gm/kg body weight) for one month. Results: Myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 levels in the colonic tissues revealed significant increased level and morphological changes in the colonic mucosa were evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin, AB/PAS and Trichrome stains revealed alteration of the colonic mucosa as evident by crypt architecture disarray, mucin depletion from goblet cells, epithelial degeneration and necrosis accompanied by cellular infiltration in the lamina propria and submucosa. In our model, the administration of jujube fruit extract of 1 gm/kg body weight revealed, significant decrease in myeloperoxidase and caspase-3 levels as compared with the control group associated with mild acetic acid-induced lesions in the histological sections. Conclusion: These results indicated that jujube fruit extract acted as a treatment agent against inflammation in rat model of acetic acid-induced colitis.