Spray-dried extract of Phyllanthus niruri L. reduces mucosal damage in rats with intestinal inflammation

• Published in: Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology Vol. 67; no. 8; pp. 1107 - 1118
• Main Authors: Melo, Maryanne Nunes de, Soares, Luiz Alberto Lira, Porto, Cynthia Raquel da Costa, Araújo, Aurigena Antunes de, Almeida, Maria das Graças, Souza, Tatiane Pereira de, Petrovick, Pedro Ros, Araújo Júnior, Raimundo Fernandes de, Guerra, Gerlane Coelho Bernardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-08-2015
• Subjects: Animals; anti-inflammatory; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; antioxidant; Antioxidants - pharmacology; colitis; Colitis, Ulcerative - drug therapy; Colitis, Ulcerative - pathology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Genes, p53 - drug effects; Glutathione - metabolism; Inflammation - drug therapy; Interferon-gamma - drug effects; Intestines - drug effects; Intestines - pathology; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Phyllanthus; Phyllanthus niruri; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - drug effects; Phyllanthus niruri; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; colitis; rats
• ISSN: 0022-3573; 2042-7158
• DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12408

Phyllanthus niruri L. belongs to the Euphorbiaceae, and is known by the common name of ‘stonebreaker’ in Brazil. Some species within the Phyllanthus genus are widely used in traditional medicine to counteract different types of anti‐inflammatory diseases.
Objectives
In this study, the preventive intestinal anti‐inflammatory activity of spray‐dried extract of P. niruri (SDEPn) was tested in the model of acetic acid (10%)‐induced ulcerative colitis in the rat.
Methods
Colitis animals were given orally at doses 25, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Colons tissue was analysed by macroscopic score, by histopathology score, by the immunohistochemical examination of tumour necrosis factor alpha, p53 and interferon gamma; by spectroscopic ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometry (UV/VIS) analysis of the levels of myeloperoxidase, malonaldehyde and total glutathione.
Key Findings/Result
Pretreatment of the extract to colitic rats significantly attenuated colonic macroscopic damage induced by acetic acid (P < 0.01). Spray‐dried extract of P. niruri prevented glutathione depletion (P < 0.001) and malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05) declined. Spray‐dried extract of P. niruri significantly reduced microscopic damage to tissues, such as leukocyte infiltration accompanied by a significant reduction in myeloperoxidase activity (P < 0.5). Immunohistochemistry revealed a decline in the TNF‐α, IFN‐γ and p53 protein (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Spray‐dried extract of P. niruri has a beneficial effect in the acute phase of acetic acid‐induced colitis in the rat, which is probably related to its antioxidant properties.