EFFECTS OF TURMERIC, AND BLACK CUMIN ON INDUCED COLITIS IN RABBITS

Abstract

Back ground: The failure of current treatment strategies to control many cases of IBD makes a strong stimulus to find out new modalities of treatment. Objective: to study the effects of oral curcumin, and black cumin on induced colitis in rabbits.Materials and Methods: Colitis was induced in rabbits by rectal acetic acid-ethanol (model 1), or acetic acid (model 2). The effects of tested agents (curcumin, and black cumin) were compared to distilled water (control), and prednisolone regarding changes in body weight, colon segment weight, and gross and microscopical scores.Result: In model 1, severe gross and microscopical damage observed in colon. Gross and microscopical scores of curcumin group were not significantly different from that of control and of prednisolone groups.In model 2, a less severe inflammation occurred; yet, an evident gross and microscopical damage were observed.Black cumin and prednisolone treatment reduced the loss of body weight of rabbits in comparison to the control. The gross and microscopical damages were apparently lowered when black cumin, curcumin and prednisolone were used, but these changes were significant for prednisolone, and black cumin (grossly), and for prednisolone (microscopically). The gross and microscopical effects of curcumin, and black cumin were comparable to those of prednisolone.Conclusion: Acetic acid-induced colitis in rabbits (model I) is preferred for testing the anti-inflammatory effectiveness of new therapeutic modalities.Black cumin oil and curcumin have an anti-inflammatory activity in this model.