Protective effect of ginger volatile oil against acetic acid-induced colitis in rats: a light microscopic evaluation.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Ulcerative colitis is a chronically recurrent inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin. In the present study, the effect of ginger (rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe) volatile oil on a rat model of colitis was evaluated.

METHODS:

Volatile oil of ginger with doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, prednisolone (4 mg/kg), or vehicle were administered orally to groups of male Wistar rats (n = 6) for 5 d. Animals were randomly divided into 6 groups, each group consisting of 6 rats. Colitis was induced by intracolonic instillation of 2 mL of 4% (v/v) acetic acid solution. All rats were sacrificed 24 h later and the tissue injuries were assessed macroscopically and histopathologically.

RESULTS:

Ginger volatile oil with all doses reduced colon weight/length ratio (P < 0.01) and the effects were similar to the reference drugs. Higher oral doses of volatile oil (200 and 400 mg/kg) reduced ulcer severity (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), ulcer area (P < 0.01) and ulcer index (P < 0.01). On the other hand, evaluation of microscopic scores showed that the dose of 400 mg/kg of volatile oil was effective to reduce inflammation severity (P < 0.01) and inflammation extent (P < 0.05) compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION:

It is concluded that ginger volatile oil could effectively reduce symptoms of experimental colitis in a dose-dependent manner.

• Authors: Amir Rashidian, Saeed Mehrzadi, Ali Reza Ghannadi, Parvin Mahzooni, Samira Sadr, Mohsen Minaiyan
• Journal: Journal of integrative medicine (J Integr Med) Vol. 12 Issue 2 Pg. 115-20 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 2095-4964 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 24666677 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Oils, Volatile
• Plant Extracts
• Plant Oils
• Acetic Acid

Topics

• Acetic Acid (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Colitis (chemically induced, pathology, prevention & control)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Zingiber officinale (chemistry)
• Male
• Microscopy
• Oils, Volatile (isolation & purification, therapeutic use)
• Plant Extracts (isolation & purification, therapeutic use)
• Plant Oils (isolation & purification, therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Rhizome (chemistry)