Protective Effect of Paronychia argentea L. on Acetic Acid Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice by Regulating Antioxidant Parameters and Inflammatory Markers

The present study is designed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Paronychia argentea methanolic extract against acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. The experimental colitis in mice was induced with 5% acetic acid (v/v, in saline) via rectal route. Animals were then divided into various treatment groups (n = 12). Four groups were treated with P. argentea methanolic extract (PAME) (50, 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days, and one group was treated with sulfasalazine (SASP, 500 mg/kg) as a standard drug. Disease activity index (DAI), colon weight and length, hematological parameters (C-reactive protein: CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate: ESR and full blood count: FBC), colonic contents of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), colonic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were recorded. Results revealed that the intrarectal instillation of acetic acid caused increased DAI, colon weight, CRP, ESR and colonic MDA levels, and a decrease in the other parameters such as colon length, FBC, colonic GSH levels, SOD and CAT activities. Treatment with PAME showed significant effect in lowering DAI, colon weight, CRP, ESR and colonic MDA levels, and in enhancing the colon length, FBC, colonic GSH levels, SOD and CAT activities in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that the extract obtained from P. argentea possess active substances, which exert marked protective effects in acute experimental colitis by regulating inflammatory markers and antioxidant parameters. Paronychia argentea may serve as a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapy for ulcerative colitis.