Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the protective and therapeutic effect of betulinic acid on acetic acid-induced colitis.
Methods: Thirty-two Wistar albino male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups as follows: sham group (n = 8; physiological saline solution enema), colitis group (n = 8; 2 mL/days 4% acetic acid enema for 3 days), colitis + betulinic acid group (n = 8, 2 mL/days 4% acetic acid enema for first 3 days and then peroral 3 mg/kg/days betulinic acid for next 3 days), betulinic acid + colitis group (n = 8, peroral 3 mg/kg/days betulinic acid for first 3 days and then 2 ml/days 4% acetic acid enema for next 3 days). On day 7, laparotomy was performed and distal colonic segment including rectum was resected. All groups were compared with respect to tissue malondialdehyde, glutathione, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, and histopathological findings.
Results: Statistically significant differences were not found between the groups in terms of rat weight (P = .516), tissue malondialdehyde (P = .203), tissue glutathione (P = .056), tissue total antioxidant status (P = .168), tissue total oxidant status (P = .810), oxidative stress index (P = .562), and histological score (P = .244).
Conclusion: Although the protective and therapeutic effect of betulinic acid has not been reach statistically significant levels, histopathological features and lev- els of some biochemical parameters (glutathione, total antioxidant status, and total oxidant status) show that the betulinic acid administration before the creation of the colitis is relatively better.