1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), a monoterpene oxide attenuates the colonic damage in rats on acute TNBS-colitis.

Abstract

The monoterpene oxide, 1,8-cineole (cineole, eucalyptol) was examined for its possible influence on the acute phase of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. The test compound, 1,8-cineole (200 and 400 mg/kg) or vehicle (1 ml, 2% Tween 80) was instilled rectally, 24, and 2 h before (pre-treatment) or 2 and 24 h after (post-treatment) the induction of colitis by intracolonic administration of TNBS (0.25 ml of 25 mg of TNBS in 50% ethanol). Rats were killed 48 h after colitis induction and colonic segments were analysed for gross damage scores, changes in wet weights, myeloperoxidase activity, an indicator of neutrophilic infiltration and glutathione level, a major cellular antioxidant. TNBS induced an extensive inflammation and ulceration in the colon. Colonic damage was associated with an increase in myeloperoxidase activity and by a decrease in glutathione. When compared to vehicle-treated TNBS controls, a marked reduction in gross damage scores and wet weights (mg/cm) of colonic segments were evident in animals pre-treated but not post-treated with 1,8-cineole. Cineole also significantly reduced the myeloperoxidase activity, and caused repletion of glutathione. These results confirm the anti-inflammatory action of 1,8-cineole and suggest its potential value as a dietary flavoring agent in the prevention of gastrointestinal inflammation and ulceration.

• Authors: F A Santos, R M Silva, A R Campos, R P De Araújo, R C P Lima Júnior, V S N Rao
• Journal: Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (Food Chem Toxicol) Vol. 42 Issue 4 Pg. 579-84 (Apr 2004) ISSN: 0278-6915 [Print] England
• PMID: 15019181 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Cyclohexanols
• Monoterpenes
• Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
• Peroxidase
• Glutathione
• Eucalyptol

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Administration, Rectal
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Colitis (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Colon (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Cyclohexanols (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Eucalyptol
• Glutathione (metabolism)
• Instillation, Drug
• Intestinal Mucosa (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Monoterpenes (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Organ Size (drug effects)
• Peroxidase (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid (administration & dosage, toxicity)