Evaluation of the effects of Vishesha Shodhit Guggulu and its marketed formulation on the intestinal mucosa in experimental rats

Abstract BACKGROUND: Shodhit Guggulu and its formulations are commonly used in the long-term Ayurvedic management of osteoarthritis. To date, no studies have reported the effects of Vishesha Shodhit Guggulu (VSG) and marketed formulation (MF) containing VSG on the gastrointestinal mucosa, and therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Triphala VSG (TVSG), Gomootra VSG (GVSG), and MF on the histopathology of stomach, small intestine (SI), and biochemical parameters of SI in comparison with those of diclofenac in the experimental model. METHODS: After obtaining the permission of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, 90 Wistar rats were randomized into five groups ( n = 18/group). The vehicle control group (Group I) received orally (p.o.) 5 ml/kg bw of 0.5% Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (Na CMC). Group II received p.o.diclofenac (6.75 mg/kg) for 4.5 days. Groups III, IV, and V received p.o. TVSG (135 mg/kg), GVSG (135 mg/kg), and MF (180 mg/kg), respectively, for 15 days. Their effect on gastric and intestinal mucosae was evaluated by histopathology, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and barrier mucus content. The data were analyzed using the GraphPad Instat software with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s test and Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by post hoc Dunnett’s test. The level of significance was considered as P < 0.05. RESULTS: Histopathological scores of gastric mucosae showed no statistically significant difference ( P > 0.05). Histopathology of the SI of animals receiving Ayurvedic drugs showed lesser damage when compared to the diclofenac group. MPO activity observed in the intestinal mucosa of animals receiving Ayurvedic drugs was comparable ( P > 0.05) with that in the vehicle control group and was significantly lower than that in the group receiving diclofenac ( P < 0.001). The mucus content of jejunum and ileum of rats receiving Ayurvedic drugs was comparable ( P > 0.05) with the vehicle control group and significantly ( P < 0.05) higher compared to the group receiving diclofenac. CONCLUSION: TVSG, GVSG, and MF showed lesser damage to SI mucosa and preserved mucosal barrier compared to diclofenac.