title: STW 5 is effective in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An herbal preparation, STW 5, used clinically in functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome, has been shown to possess properties that may render it useful in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The present work was conducted to study its effectiveness in a rat model of IBD.
  
  
  METHODS
  An experimental model reflecting ulcerative colitis in man was adopted, whereby colitis was induced in Wistar rats by feeding them 5 % dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for one week. STW 5 and sulfasalazine (as a reference standard) were administered orally daily for 1 week before colitis induction and continued during DSS feeding. The animals were then sacrificed, and the severity of colitis was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Colon samples were homogenized for determination of reduced glutathione, tumor necrosis factor-α, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-3 as well as myeloperoxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, colon segments were suspended in an organ bath to test their reactivity towards carbachol, KCl, and trypsin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  STW 5 and sulfasalazine were both effective in preventing the shortening of colon length and the increase in both colon mass index and total histology score as well as the changes in biochemical parameters measured except changes in dismutase activity. DSS-induced colitis led to marked depression in colonic responsiveness to the agents tested ex vivo, an effect which was normalized by both drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings point to a potential usefulness of STW 5 in the clinical setting of ulcerative colitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Walaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wadie
authors.forename: Heba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
authors.forename: Hala F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kelber
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weiser
authors.forename: Mohamed T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Khayyal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; C039964:iberogast; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione