Antioxidant Effects of Methanol Extract of Dracocephalum kotschyi in Acetic Acid Induced Rat Colitis Model

 There is a worldwide trend towards substitute synthetic antioxidants with natural alternatives to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis (UC). This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Dracocephalum kotschyi extract on tissue injury and oxidative stress in an acetic-acid induced colitis model.

48 male Wistar rats were allocated to 6 groups: healthy control, colitis control, and 4 treatment groups which administrated 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg of D. kotschyi extract respectively, and 200 mg/kg sulfasalazine once daily for 8 days after colitis induced. Colitis severity was assessed using histologic and macroscopic changes of damaged colon, and enzymatic antioxidant activities like superoxide dismutase (SOD), total thiol (–SH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidation marker MDA (malondialdehyde) were evaluated.

D. kotschyi extract (50mg/kg) decreased colonic macroscopic and histological damage scores, which were accompanied by a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation, and an increase in colonic antioxidant markers.

 The results suggest that D. kotschyi extract is effective against oxidative bowel damages induced in IBD and its beneficial effect is, at least in part, due to its antioxidant properties.