Introduction: This investigation assessed the influence of Caffeic Acid (CA) on the principal immunological responses in a mouse model of Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Owing to its cardioprotective, antiviral, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, CA is significant owing to its wide-ranging consumption in the standard human diet. Therefore, it's anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer attributes pave the way for it to be perceived as a potential alternative approach to prevent inflammatory and colorectal cancer diseases.
Methods: In this study, we classified 28 adults male Wistar rats randomly into four sets of seven, encompassing a healthy control group, a diseased control group, a unit receiving prednisolone treatment (2 mg/kg PO), and a unit receiving caffeic acid treatment (150 mg/kg PO). UC was initiated in rats through the rectal administration of acetic acid. Following the confirmation of disease initiation, rats were subjected to a 10-day treatment phase during which the respective group animals received their treatments. At the conclusion of the treatment phase, rats were humanely euthanized, and serum and colon tissue samples were harvested. The expression of inflammatory genes TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 in homogenized colon tissue samples was assessed, and disease severity and tissue inflammation were gauged by measuring the level of total protein.
Results: The study's outcomes suggest that both treatment methodologies, namely CA and the traditionally used prednisolone, are effective in mitigating the severity and enhancing the clinical symptoms of UC. CA was discerned to notably diminish the levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and TNF-alpha, as well as total protein in the serum, suggesting its potential for reducing disease severity. Furthermore, CA was found to be superior to prednisolone in reducing the escalated levels of interleukin-1 beta and TNF-alpha, respectively.
Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings endorse the notion that Caffeic Acid could be considered a natural therapeutic strategy for alleviating the symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis.
Keywords: Ulcerative Colitis, Caffeic Acid, Anti-Inflammatory effects, Rat Wistar