Evaluation of anti-ulcerative effect of Eryngium billardieri extracts on experimental colitis in rats

Introduction: Eryngium billardieri has been demonstrated in previous studies to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties. Colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease with unknown causes, often leads to numerous side effects associated with current medications. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-ulcerative potential of E. billardieri extracts in experimental colitis. Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of E. billardieri and its aqueous and ethyl acetate partitions were prepared using the maceration method, and the polyphenol content was determined for each extract. Male Wistar rats with acetic acid-induced colitis were orally administered three different doses (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) of the extract and each partition for 5 consecutive days. On the sixth day, the rats’ colons were removed and analyzed for macroscopic parameters (ulcer index), microscopic parameters (total colitis index), as well as inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, including myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde, respectively. Results: The total phenol content for the dry extract and aqueous and ethyl acetate partitions were 6.51, 4.15, and 8.59 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, respectively. The hydroalcoholic extract and ethyl acetate partition at all three examined doses were able to significantly alleviate most parameters related to colitis. However, the aqueous partition did not improve most of the colitis features except for the tissue level of malondialdehyde. Conclusion: The study concludes that the total extract of E. billardieri, as well as the ethyl acetate partition, exhibited anti-colitis properties in a dose-related manner. It is suggested that the effective substances responsible for these properties are non-polar compounds that are not extracted by aqueous partitioning. Further studies are needed to identify and characterize these effective compounds.