The efficacy of
comaruman CP, a
pectin of marsh cinquefoil Comarum palustre L., was investigated using a model of
acetic acid-induced
colitis in mice. Mice were administered
comaruman CP orally 2 days prior to rectal injection of 5%
acetic acid and examined for colonic damage 24 hr later. Colonic
inflammation was characterized by macroscopical injury, higher levels of
myeloperoxidase activity, enhanced vascular permeability, and diminution of colonic mucus.
Oral administration of
comaruman CP was found to prevent progression of
colitis. Colonic macroscopic scores and the total square of damage were significantly reduced in mice treated with CP compared with the vehicle-treated
colitis group. Peroral pretreatment of mice with
comaruman CP was shown to decrease tissue
myeloperoxidase activity in colons compared with the
colitis group.
Comaruman CP was found to stimulate production of mucus by colons of normal and
colitis mice.
Comaruman CP decreased the inflammatory status of normal mice as elicited by reduction of vascular permeability and adhesion of peritoneal neutrophils and macrophages. Thus, a preventive effect of
comaruman on
acetic acid-induced
colitis in mice was detected. Reduction of neutrophil infiltration and enhancement of colon-bound mucus may be implicated in the protective effect of
comaruman.