title: Azadirachta indica Attenuates Colonic Mucosal Damage in Experimental Colitis Induced by Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid.
abstract: Azadirachta indica leaves indicated the presence of active principles with proven antioxidants, antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, free radical scavenging and healing properties. In the present study we evaluated the healing effects of 50% ethanol extract of dried leaves of Azadirachta indica on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats. Azadirachta indica extract (500 mg/kg) was administered orally, once daily for 14 days and studied for its effects on diarrhoea, food and water intake, body weight changes, colonic damage and inflammation, histology, antibacterial activity and free radicals (nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation), antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione) and myeloperoxidase activities in colonic tissue. Intracolonic trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid increased colonic mucosal damage and inflammation, diarrhea, but decreased body weight which were reversed by Azadirachta indica extract and sulfasalazine (positive control) treatments. Azadirachta indica extract showed antibacterial activity. Azadirachta indica extract and sulfasalazine enhanced the antioxidants but decreased free radicals and myeloperoxidase activities affected in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis. Azadirachta indica extract, thus seemed to be effective in healing trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, Medanta-The Medicity, Sector 38, Gurgaon-122 001, India.
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ghatule
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dravyaguna, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Goel
keywords: Azadirachta indica; TNBS-colitis; antioxidants; free radicals; myeloperoxidase