Biochemical effects of cold and hot-pressed thistle and linseed oils in rats with acute colitis
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kotlyar I.P. , Kuznіetsova H.M. ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Rybalchenko V.K. ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Published: September 2021

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which includes ulcerative colitis (UC), is one of the most serious and currently unsolved problems in modern gastroenterology. In terms of severity and frequency of complications, IBD occupies one of the leading places in the structure of gastrointestinal tract diseases. The etiology of IBD is still not fully understood. It is probably of an autoimmune nature, and the main causes are considered to be hereditary predisposition, allergic reactions, nutrition, etc. Dystrophic and atrophic changes of the colonic mucosa, accompanied by its secretory and motor function alterations, digestive disorders, as well as extraintestinal manifestations (general intoxication, liver and skin injuries, joints) are main IBD features. Because tumor growth is usually accompanied by inflammation of tumor nodules in adjacent apparently normal tissue, and prolonged pharnaceutical suppression of inflammation significantly reduces the risk of tumor development, chronic UC is considered as a precursor condition. Moreover, the number of colorectal cancer cases among people with UC history exceeding 10 years, increases eightfold compared to the average population. In this regard, it is important to prevent this pathology, in particular with the help of food supplements of natural origin, such as vegetable oils of flax and milk thistle, which are used in traditional medicine, including inflammatory diseases of the digestive system. Studies on their possible anti-inflammatory effects on the colonic mucosa and biochemical parameters of blood in ulcerative colitis have not been performed. Therefore, the aim is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effectiveness of vegetable oils (flaxseed and milk thistle, obtained by different methods of pressing) in a model of acute colitis in rats. Object of research: biochemical mechanisms of realization of influence of thistle and flaxseed oils of different methods of extraction at ulcerative colitis. The effects of linseed and milk thistle oils obtained by cold pressing (to 45°C) and hot pressing (to 95°C) on the development of acute colitis in rats, when administered with food, have been investigated. It was shown that the use of linseed oil both cold and hot-pressed under conditions of adding it to the feed in an amount of 10% for 2 weeks prevents the development of inflammatory and destructive changes in the colon of rats with acute colitis and its negative consequences in the liver (for approaching to the normal values of serum markers of its functional activity). These oil properties could be realized partially by unsaturated fatty acids, in particular ω3, including minor ones. The data obtained may indicate that one of the mechanisms of implementation of the anti-inflammatory action of these substances is their ability to reduce oxidative stress - one of the main factors and promoters of inflammation.