title: Protective effect of cardamonin against acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with significant morbidity. Cardamonin is a natural chalcone derivative with considerable anti-inflammatory activity. Herein, the potential protective effect of cardamonin against UC was tested in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were given 10 or 30mg/kg/day of cardamonin orally for 14days before induction of UC. On the 14th day of treatment, UC was induced by intrarectal instillation of 2ml 3% acetic acid. Twenty four h after acetic acid instillation, rats were sacrificed and colons were analyzed by macroscopic and histopathological examination. Colon lipid peroxidation was examined by biochemical evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA). Myeloperoxidase (MPO), iNOS, NF-κB, TNFα levels were measured by ELISA. Moreover, caspase-3 and COX-2 were assessed by immunohistochemical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardamonin at 10 and 30mg/kg decreased the disease activity index and macroscopic damage index scores, and significantly reduced histopathological deterioration. Additionally, cardamonin reduced levels of MPO, iNOS, NF-κB, TNFα and MDA (p<0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed down-regulation of COX-2 and caspase-3 in groups treated with cardamonin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardamonin has a protective effect against acetic acid-induced colitis. This effect may be due to reducing inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: azzamoro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Azza Abdelfattah
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: ekramnemr@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ekram Nemr
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Abd Al Haleem
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: sa7ar_22@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sahar Abdel-Hafeez
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khaleel
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: monah.said@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amany Said
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sallam
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D047188:Chalcones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D047188:Chalcones; D016328:NF-kappa B; D020011:Protective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D009195:Peroxidase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D053148:Caspase 3; C436747:cardamonin; D019342:Acetic Acid
keywords: Apoptosis; Cardamonin; Inflammation; ROS; Ulcerative colitis