Beneficial Effects of Guiera Senegalensis on Selected Parameters in Acetic Acid-Induced Colitis in Wister Rats

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) and are defined as chronic and relapsing inflammations of the gastrointestinal tract caused by variable pathophysiological mechanisms. Synthetic chemical moieties with antioxidant potential are the present treatment regimens, but their high relapse rate and toxicities limit their utility in treatment.

Aim: The aim of this work is to investigate the possible beneficial effects that the aqueous extract of the plant will elicit on selected parameters in experimental rats. A control, colitis control and a treatment control will serve as a guide in the assessment of the findings in this study.

Methods: Experimental colitis was induced in animals using acetic acid to mimic human IBD. An aqueous extraction method of the plant was used to reflect traditional uses. The effects of oral administration of the extract in the animals were compared using a control, colitis control and treatment control (Prednisolone).

Results: There were statistically significant and dose-dependent improvements in food intake, stool consistency, body weight and microscopic colonic changes of test animals compared to control groups but not as remarkable as the treatment control. The extract also showed remarkable improvement in the scores of both macroscopic and microscopic colonic parameters compared to control groups. Also, the findings were not as potent as prednisolone. Water intake and splenic weight, on the other hand, were better in animals receiving the extract compared to those receiving prednisolone. The extract, however, does not bear the side effects of immune suppression and toxicity that prednisolone has as evidenced by splenic weights measured.

Conclusion: The extract is safe for consumption and has shown anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Prednisolone (2mg/kg) showed slightly better anti-inflammatory properties than the extract at doses used in this study (≤400mg/kg). The extract, however, doesn't seem to have the side effects of prednisolone.