RUTOSIDE AS MUCOSAL PROTECTIVE IN ACETIC ACID-INDUCED RAT COLITIS

The effect of the flavonoid rutoside on acetic acid-induced rat coliti s was studied. Rats were pretreated orally with different doses of the flavonoid (10, 25, and 100 mg/kg) 48, 24, and 1 hour prior to colitis induction and examined for colonic damage 24 hours later. Colonic inf lammation was characterized by gross and microscopical injury, bowel w all thickening, abolition of fluid absorption, glutathione depletion, enhanced leukotriene Bq synthesis, and increased levels of myeloperoxi dase and alkaline phosphatase activities. Rutoside treatment (25 and 1 00 mg/kg) reduced histologic injury and prevented the increase in alka line phosphatase activity, but it had no effect on myeloperoxidase lev els or leukotriene B-4 synthesis. In addition, glutathione depletion w as effectively counteracted at the dose of 25 mg/kg, whereas fluid abs orption was achieved at the highest dose assayed. It is concluded that rutoside has an acute antiinflammatory activity in this model which m ay be related to a putative direct protective effect on intestinal cel ls, mainly enterocytes, in which the antioxidative properties of the f lavonoid may play a role.