Tea from Pods with Seeds of <i>Libidibia ferrea</i> (Jucá) Does Not Attenuate Inflammatory Reaction of Acute Colitis in Rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Jucá tea for curative treatment in rats with acute colitis. A total of 40 male <i>Wistar</i> rats (<i>n</i> = 10 per group) were fed a commercial ration and filtered water, wherein one group received Jucá tea by gavage. The rats were divided into the following groups: control, colitis control, drug control receiving sulfasalazine, and Jucá group, where the rats received an intermediate dose of the fruit (285 mg/kg/day). The disease activity index, macroscopic damage score of the large intestine (LI), histopathological analysis of the LI, biochemical examinations, and antioxidant measurements were performed. The group that received Jucá tea exhibited reduced water and feed consumption (<i>P</i> = .000) and presented a higher index of disease activity on days 1 (<i>P</i> = .000) and 7 (<i>P</i> = .004). Additionally, this group presented more severe intestinal lesions on histopathological evaluation of the total damage score (<i>P</i> = .017). The intestinal crypts were not negatively affected by tea consumption (<i>P</i> = .001). Jucá did not cause hepatic alterations in rats, as verified by alanine aminotransferase measurement (<i>P</i> = .04), but lowered albumin levels (<i>P</i> = .00). Jucá tea alters the dietary consumption in animals, is implicated in intestinal damage, and does not soften the inflammatory process caused by colitis. Jucá does not induce hepatotoxicity.