title: Spray-dried extract of Phyllanthus niruri L. reduces mucosal damage in rats with intestinal inflammation.
abstract: Phyllanthus niruri L. belongs to the Euphorbiaceae, and is known by the common name of 'stonebreaker' in Brazil. Some species within the Phyllanthus genus are widely used in traditional medicine to counteract different types of anti-inflammatory diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the preventive intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of spray-dried extract of P. niruri (SDEPn) was tested in the model of acetic acid (10%)-induced ulcerative colitis in the rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colitis animals were given orally at doses 25, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Colons tissue was analysed by macroscopic score, by histopathology score, by the immunohistochemical examination of tumour necrosis factor alpha, p53 and interferon gamma; by spectroscopic ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV/VIS) analysis of the levels of myeloperoxidase, malonaldehyde and total glutathione.
  Pretreatment of the extract to colitic rats significantly attenuated colonic macroscopic damage induced by acetic acid (P < 0.01). Spray-dried extract of P. niruri prevented glutathione depletion (P < 0.001) and malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05) declined. Spray-dried extract of P. niruri significantly reduced microscopic damage to tissues, such as leukocyte infiltration accompanied by a significant reduction in myeloperoxidase activity (P < 0.5). Immunohistochemistry revealed a decline in the TNF-α, IFN-γ and p53 protein (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spray-dried extract of P. niruri has a beneficial effect in the acute phase of acetic acid-induced colitis in the rat, which is probably related to its antioxidant properties.
authors: Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors: Maryanne Nunes
authors: MN
authors: de Melo
authors: Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors: Luiz Alberto Lira
authors: LA
authors: Soares
authors: Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors: Cynthia Raquel da Costa
authors: CR
authors: Porto
authors: Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.|Public Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors: Aurigena Antunes
authors: AA
authors: de Araújo
authors: Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors: Maria das Graças
authors: Md
authors: Almeida
authors: Departament of Drugs and Foods, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil.
authors: Tatiane Pereira
authors: TP
authors: de Souza
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: Pedro Ros
authors: PR
authors: Petrovick
authors: Health Science, Functional and Structural Biology, Departament of Morphology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors: Raimundo Fernandes
authors: RF
authors: de Araújo
authors: Departament of Biophysical and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors: Gerlane Coelho Bernardo
authors: GC
authors: Guerra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000187:drug effects; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D029803:Phyllanthus; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; C573415:IFNG protein, human; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Phyllanthus niruri; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; colitis; rats