Effect of Dracocephalum polychaetum Burnm, aqueous extract on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in adult male rats

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory chronic disease that affects mucosa and submucosa of the colon and rectum. The etiopathology is related to imbalance of the mucosal immune respanse toward the resident bactorical flora together with genetic and envirmental factors. UC is thogather with annoying symptoms such as; abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. In other hand plant of Dracocephalum polychaetum have used traditionally in treat of digestive tract disease and as tranquillizing. Therefore the aim of the present study, was to evaluated the effect of this herbal aqueous extract on a model of acute experimental colitis.
This experimental study were performed on 48 mail wistar rats(230-280g).Then induced ulcerative colitis, rats divided to groups incloude doses of extract (50, 100,200 mg/kg), vehicle,prednisolon and the last considered as control group.For induction of colitis the rats were fasted for 36 hours and then anaesthetized with CO2,at the last stage 2 ml of acetic acid 4% was instilled via the anus. After 24 hours the macroscopic study of colon showed the colitis indices. Biochemical evalution of inflamed colon was done using assay of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and rate of lipid peroxidation.
The aqueous extract of D.polychaetum with doses of (50(P>0/01),100(P>0/001),200(P>0/001)mg/kg) significantly reduced colon weight/length ratio. Extract at dose of 200mg/kg (P>0/05) was effective to decrease inflammation as well as extent of injury. Concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased in acetic acid-treated groups‚ while recovered by treatment of animals with D.polychaetum (200 mg/kg) (P>0/01) as well as prednizolon (10 mg/kg).
It is concluded that Dracocephalum polychaetum Burnm aqueous extract could be effective in treatment against experimental acute colitis. The results suggested extract had anti-inflammatory effect.