Effects of Papaverine and Sulfasalazine Combination Therapy on Inflammatory Markers in Rat Ulcerative Colitis Model: Insights on Oxidative Stress and Tissue Healing

Background: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a persistent inflammation of the colon by recurrent episodes of mucosal inflammation, ulceration, and tissue damage. This debilitating condition significantly impacts the quality of life for afflicted individuals, necessitating a critical need for innovative and successful therapeutic methods. Aim : To assess the efficacy of Papaverine-Sulfasalazine combination therapy in oxidative stress reduction and tissue recovery in a Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-induced rat model of UC. Materials and Methods: Animals were administered with a 5% DSS solution for 21 days daily and intervention Papaverine (200 mg/kg) and Standard Sulfasalazine (200 mg/kg) were administered orally as single and combined manner. On the last day of the study sacrifice the experimental animals, blood was preserved to measure the levels of oxidative stress in the intestines and the activity of antioxidant enzymes and also isolate the intestine for visible examinations of tissue morphological damage through histology. Results: In the study groups Papaverine and Sulfasalazine administration resulted in a significant decline in the ulcerative index, histopathological alterations, and the Nitric Oxide (NO), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in tissue. Additionally, the antioxidation levels significantly recovered including Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) levels in the colon tissue moreover, the histological analysis provided clear evidence of the effective healing and recovery of the previously damaged tissues. Besides this the Combination of Papaverine and Sulfasalazine shows a synergistic effect and produces more significant results as compared to the alone administration of Papaverine and Sulfasalazine. Conclusion: The findings presented above make it clear that Papaverine, particularly in combination with the standard drug can be a useful remedy in UC.