title: Dietary protocatechuic acid ameliorates dextran sulphate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis and hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: The present study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of dietary protocatechuic acid (PCA), a simple hydrophilic phenolic compound commonly found in many edible vegetables, on dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis and its associated hepatotoxicity in rats. PCA was administered orally at 10 mg kg(-1) to dextran sulphate sodium exposed rats for five days. The result revealed that administration of PCA significantly (p < 0.05) prevented the incidence of diarrhea and bleeding, the decrease in the body weight gain, shortening of colon length and the increase in colon mass index in DSS-treated rats. Furthermore, PCA prevented the increase in the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, markers of liver toxicity and markedly suppressed the DSS-mediated elevation in colonic nitric oxide concentration and myeloperoxidase activity in the treated rats. Administration of PCA significantly protected against colonic and hepatic oxidative damage by increasing the antioxidant status and concomitantly decreased hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation levels in the DSS-treated rats. Moreover, histological examinations confirmed PCA chemoprotection against colon and liver damage. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that PCA significantly inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression in the colon of DSS-treated rats. In conclusion, the effective chemoprotective role of PCA in colitis and the associated hepatotoxicity is related to its intrinsic anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
authors.affiliation: Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. olatunde_farombi@yahoo.com eo.farombi@mail.ui.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Ebenezer O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Farombi
authors.affiliation: Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. olatunde_farombi@yahoo.com eo.farombi@mail.ui.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Isaac A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Adedara
authors.affiliation: Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. olatunde_farombi@yahoo.com eo.farombi@mail.ui.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Omolola V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Awoyemi
authors.affiliation: Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. olatunde_farombi@yahoo.com eo.farombi@mail.ui.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Chinonye R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Njoku
authors.affiliation: Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. olatunde_farombi@yahoo.com eo.farombi@mail.ui.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Gabriel O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Micah
authors.affiliation: Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. olatunde_farombi@yahoo.com eo.farombi@mail.ui.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Cynthia U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Esogwa
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Solomon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Owumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: James O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Olopade
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C009091:protocatechuic acid; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D002374:Catalase; D009195:Peroxidase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C489691:Ptgs2 protein, rat; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase