Potential of the plant Thespesia populnea in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Context: Thespesia populnea Sol. ex Correa (Malvaceae), an indigenous tree species in India, is of interest to researchers because traditionally its heartwood is used in the treatment of ulcer and colic pain.

Objective: To validate its folk use in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).

Materials And Methods: Mice were administered intrarectal DNBS and then treated with different plant extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg), 30 min before and 24 and 48 h after DNBS infusion. Colonic mucosal injury was assessed by macroscopic and histological examination. Furthermore, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), protease, and hemoglobin (Hb) contents were measured in tissue and blood samples.

Results: Administration of various extracts ameliorated macroscopic and microscopic scores which were altered due to DNBS treatment in mice. Hb concentration in blood was restored significantly by the aqueous extract to 17.20 ± 0.5, which was reduced to 13.80 ± 0.5 after treatment with DNBS. MDA level was increased to 10.82 nm/mg and 10.25 nm/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, due to DNBS treatment which was reduced to 2.69 nm/mg and 3.59 nm/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, by aqueous extract treatment. Similarly, MPO level was increased to 412 U/mg and 404 U/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, which was significantly reduced to 205 U/mg and 219 U/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, by aqueous extract treatment. Aqueous extract significantly reduced protease activity which was markedly increased in DNBS-treated animals.

Discussion And Conclusion: Aqueous extract of heartwood of T. populnea is effective in the treatment of UC.