Methanol Extract of Chrysophylum albidum Fruit Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic bowel illness that causes inflammation by eroding the colon and rectum lining. The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is on the rise worldwide. The available treatments have been reported to cause adverse effects such as nasopharyngitis, hypokalemia, and leukopenia. Hence, in the quest to manage ulcerative colitis, there is a need to investigate potential therapeutic bioactives in natural products such as Chrysophylum albidum fruit which have been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the effects of Chrysophylum albidum fruit methanol extract (CAFÉ) on inflammation in the Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced model of colitis in male Wistar rats. Twenty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each: Control (I); DSS-induced colitis (II); DSS-induced colitis + 200mg/kg of CAFÉ (III); DSS-induced colitis + 400mg/kg of CAFÉ (IV) and DSS induced colitis + 200mg/kg of Sulfasalazine (V). Colitis was induced by administering 3% (v/v) DSS for seven days. CAFE administration at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and alterations in the structure of colonic crypts. The extract significantly (p<0.05) attenuated the increased MDA, nitrite, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. Activities of SOD, CAT, MPO, and GSH were also significantly (p<0.05) increased. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased colonic MUC-2 expression by CAFÉ following DSS-induced colitis. In conclusion, CAFÉ attenuated DSS-induced colitis via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms and through the stimulation of MUC 2 expression in the colon.