title: Garlic oil inhibits dextran sodium sulfate-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Garlic oil (GO) is used for centuries in folk medicine as a therapy for many diseases including inflammatory disorders. Recently, it has exhibited potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Consequently, we evaluated the possible protective effect of GO in a rat model of colitis, induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Colitis induced by allowing rats a free access to drinking water containing 5% DSS for 7 days, from day 1 to day 7. GO was administered orally in doses of 25, 50 and 100mg/kg/day. Mesalazine used as a standard medication in a dose of 15 mg/kg/day. All animals fasted for 2h, 1h before and 1h after giving the treatment, which introduced daily for 7 days, from day 1 to day 7, at 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Animal body, and colonic weights, colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, colonic reduced-glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-10 levels, macroscopic and microscopic changes of colonic tissues were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GO treatment significantly suppressed the elevated colonic weight, MPO activity, MDA, TNF-α and IL-1β levels. However, it potentiated the decrease body weight, colonic SOD activity, GSH and IL-10 levels. Moreover, it ameliorated the marked macroscopic and microscopic changes of colonic mucosa in a dose dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Garlic oil inhibits DSS-induced colitis in rats may be through its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Therefore, GO could be a promising protective agent recommended for UC patients.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Postal No. 31527, El-Gish Street, Tanta, Egypt. Electronic address: Mohamed.Balaha@Med.Tanta.Edu.Eg.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balaha
authors.affiliation: Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Postal No. 31527, El-Gish Street, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Samah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kandeel
authors.affiliation: Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Postal No. 31527, El-Gish Street, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Walaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Elwan
mesh_terms: D000498:Allyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000498:Allyl Compounds; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D013440:Sulfides; D019804:Mesalamine; C038491:allyl sulfide; D016264:Dextran Sulfate
keywords: Cytokines; DSS; Garlic oil; Histological evaluation; Oxidative stress; Ulcerative colitis