The preventive effects of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester on rats with Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced colitis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Sprague Dawley rats subjected to trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitisMaterial and methods: Fourty eight Sprague Dawley rats were divided into six subgroups randomly. Vehicle control, colitis control, CAPE treatment, aminosalicylic acid (ASA) treatment, CAPE control, ASA control, respectively. Colitis was induced using an enema of TNBS and ethanol, following which CAPE or ASA were administrated for 7 days to induce colitis and effect of CAPE and ASA were subsequently evaluated. Microscopic damage was scored. Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutation peroxidase (GSH-Px), Glutation reductase (GSH-Red), Tumor necrozis factor alfa (TNF-?) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were examined in tissue and serum samplesResults: Based on microscopic damage scores, there was significant difference between rats of the TNBS colitis and the vehicle-treated groups, whereas treatment with CAPE and ASA, respectively, caused a reduction (but not statistically significant) in colon injury compared to that observed in rats of the TNBS-colitis. In connection with the biochemical analyses, malondialdehyde level in rats from the colitis was significantly different from that of the others but tissue malondialdehyde level in rats from the colitis was not different from that of the ASA treatment group. Tissue IL-1 levels in rat from the colitis group was significantly different from that of the others. Serum IL-1 level in rat from the colitis group was significantly different from that of the others except for CAPE treatment group. GSH-Px level in rat from the colitis group was significantly different from that of the 5-ASA treatment group only. A GSH-Red level in rats from the colitis group was significantly different from that of the others except for vehicle control group.Conclusion: CAPE may have a positive effect on the IBD treatment process like ASA and therefore, it could be used as an adjunct therapy in colitis. These effects of CAPE may occur via antiinflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.Key Words: Experimental colitis, Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester, 5-ASA