Beneficial Effects of MSM Treatment on the Development of Experimental Colitis Induced by Acetic Acid

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. A number of medical strategies are available. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in treatment the acetic acid (A) induced model for UC in rats were examined. Methods: The groups were divided into normal control (N), acetic acid (A) control, and MSM (400mg/kg). Rats received treatment for six consecutive days after induction of colitis by intra-rectal acetic acid (2ml 4% v/v) administration. On day 7, the rats were sacrificed, colon was removed, and the macroscopic, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations were performed. Results: The colon weight/length ratio was decreased significantly ( < 0.05). The glutathione (GSH) concentration was increased significantly ( < 0.05). The macroscopic and histopathological parameters were decreased, but it didn’t reduce significantly in the MSM treated groups compered to group A. Contrariwise the parameters of group A. Conclusions. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of MSM in treating the UC are due to its potential to reduce the colon weight/length ratio, and increased GSH. Keyword: MSM, Ulcerative colitis, glutathione, macroscopic, histopathological. INTRODUCTION Methylsulfonylmethane (Dimethylsulfone or, MSM) is a naturally occurring organosulfur molecule that can be synthesized commercially from dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). MSM is naturally present in the human body as it is metabolized from ingested DMSO1. Many properties have been attributed to MSM, such as chemopreventive properties, anti-inflammatory activities, antiatherosclerotic action, prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis inhibition, and free radical scavenging activity2. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, defined by clinical characteristics such as diarrhea, abdominal pains, weight loss and nausea and by pathological features such as a loss of mucosal integrity and inflammatory cell infiltration3. There is evidence for an intense local immune response associated with recruitment of lymphocytes and macrophages followed by release of soluble cytokines and other inflammatory mediators4.In addition to reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause impairment of cellular membrane stability and cell death by leading lipid peroxidation5. Several studies found that excessive production of ROS in mucosal cells induced by inflammatory and immune responses could directly or indirectly cause damage of intestinal epithelial cells, subsequently influences the mucosal integrity or initiate an inflammatory signaling cascade and lead to severe impairment in experimental colitis6. An additional group of redox active molecules termed RSS are formed in vivo under conditions of oxidative stress7. A number of medical strategies are available, but the less side effects is better. The present work was conducted to assess the possible anti -inflammatory and antioxidative effects of MSM in treatment an animal model of colitis induced by acetic acid in rats.