ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF DAUCUS CAROTA ROOT ON EXPERIMENTAL COLITIS IN RATS Research Article

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease of unknown etiology which is characterized by chronic and spontaneously relapsing inflammation. The aim of present investigation was to study the anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous extract of Daucus carota (AEDC) in acetic acid induced experimental colitis in wistar rats. The animals were received 7 days pretreatment with Daucus carota (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle (distilled water, 1 ml) before the induction of colitis. Colitis was induced by intrarectal instillation of 2 ml (4% v/v) acetic acid solution. Intrarectal instillation of acetic acid resulted significant decreased in food and water intake, body weight of animals. It caused enhanced colon weight, colon width, colon weight to length ratio, spleen weight, ulcer area, ulcer index, colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide. Pretreatment with Daucus carota aqueous extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) for 7 days significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001 respectively) and dose dependently attenuated these decreased food and water intake, body weight. The 7 days pretreatment with Daucus carota aqueous extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly decreased stool consistency, macroscopical score, colon weight, colon width, colon weight to length ratio, spleen weight, ulcer area, ulcer index, colonic MPO and nitric oxide. It significantly attenuated histological alterations associated with acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis. The present investigation elucidates anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous extract of Daucus carota root in acetic acid induced experimental colitis by inhibition of release of oxido-inflammatory mediators such as MPO and nitric oxide.