Ameliorative effects of the flavonoid fustin in a rat model of trinitrobenzensulfonic acid-induced colitis

Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis is a widely used animal model that mimics the signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Fustin is a flavonoid found in Cotinus coggygria. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of fustin isolated from Cotinus coggygria heartwood in a rat model of TNBS-induced colitis. In this experiment, 30 male Wistar rats were used, allocated to three groups: Control, TNBS and TNBS+F10. Colitis was induced by rectal application of TNBS. After the induction of colitis, fustin at a dose of 10 mg/kg was administered orally to TNBS+F10 group in the course of 8 days. Severity of colitis, oxidative stress and inflammation were assessed by macroscopic, histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses. Rats from TNBS group demonstrated severe colonic damage. Fustin treatment ameliorated most of the macroscopic and some of the histopathological indices of colonic damage, and restored the activity of the endogenous antioxidant superoxide dismutase in tissue homogenate but did not affect the signs of inflammation measured by the activity of alkaline phosphatase in serum and tissue homogenate, as well as the expression of NF-kB in the colon. In conclusion, the ameliorative effects of fustin in the experimental TNBS-induced colitis might be the result of its antioxidant properties.