Kolaviron, A Flavonoid From Garcinia Kola Seeds, Ameliorates Experimental Colitis In Rats Exposed To Cadmium

Cadmium has been shown to potentiate experimental ulcers in laboratory animals. Its ability to predispose humans to ulcerative colitis has also been postulated. Polyphenols and flavonoids found in plants possess antioxidant and metal binding potentials and may therefore, be beneficial in pathological conditions of oxidative stress resulting from exposure to heavy metals. In the present study, the effect of kolaviron, a biflavonoid complex from the seeds of Garcinia kola (Heckel) on colitis in cadmium‐exposed rats was investigated. Male Wistar rats (110–120 g) were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 received distilled water, Group 2 received dimethyl sulphoxide, and served as negative and positive controls respectively. Group 3 received cadmium (10 mg/kg) while group 4 animals received Cadmium (10 mg/kg) in addition to kolaviron (200 mg/kg). The last group received kolaviron (200 mg/kg) alone. After four weeks of exposure to cadmium with or without kolaviron, colitis was induced in all animals in groups 2–5 by intrarectal administration of 2 mL of 4% Acetic acid (AA). Rats were sacrificed and colons resected at days 0, 3, 7 and 14 days of colitis induction. Assessment was based on symptoms of colitis such as weight loss and stool consistency using a diarrhoea score scale. Colon sample homogenates were analysed for concentrations of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide (NO), Glutathione (GSH), Sulfhydryl, activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na+‐K+ ATPase, Myeloperoxidase (MPO) by spectrophotometry and histology by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The weight loss (%) in Cadmium group by week 3 was (31.05 ± 0.04). Intrarectal administration of AA resulted in increased stool score in Cadmium group (0.80 ± 0.00) till day 14 post colitis induction. Macroscopic score was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in Cadmium group till day 14. MDA were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in Cadmium group at days 7 and 14. The notable increases in MPO and NO during AA‐induced colitis and cadmium exposure were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by Kolaviron. Significant (p < 0.05) decreases in SOD, Na+‐K+ ATPase activities, sulfhydryl and GSH concentrations upon AA administration were attenuated in other groups except Cadmium group. Histology showed healing in all groups post colitis induction except in Cadmium group where histopathological damage was still evident at day 14. Kolaviron ameliorated the delayed healing of Acetic acid‐induced colitis during cadmium exposures in Wistar rats and may therefore, be useful as dietary intervention in cases of cadmium exposures. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .