Abstract
Euterpe oleracea Mart., commonly known as açaí, has been demonstrated to exhibit significantly antioxidant and inflammatory activities in experimental models. These effects of the hydroalcoholic extract from the açaí seed (ASE) were investigated in TNBS-induced (2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid) acute colitis model in rats. Wistar rats (180–220 g) were orally pretreated with saline (0.3 mL), ASE (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (control group, 1 mg/kg) once daily for 3 days starting before TNBS instillation. On day 3 after TNBS, the animals were euthanized, the portion of distal colon was collected and washed with 0.9% saline for macroscopy and histological evaluation, glutathione (GSH) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and catalase (CAT) activity, nitrate and nitrite (NO3/NO2) concentration, pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and intestinal barrier integrity. We also evaluated Toll-like Receptor 4/cyclooxygenase-2/nuclear factor kappa B expression as a possible mechanism related to the ASE effects. Treatment with ASE 100 mg/kg decreased significantly macroscopic and microscopic damage induced by TNBS. In addition, MPO activity, TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and IL-1β (interleukin 1) levels were reduced in rats with colitis. ASE 100 mg/kg restored GSH and MDA levels, CAT activity, NO3/NO2 concentration and improved the intestinal barrier integrity in the TNBS group. ASE 100 mg/kg significantly reduced TNBS-induced expression of the TLR4, COX-2 and NF-κB p65. ASE 100 mg/kg improved macroscopy and histological parameters, inflammation, intestinal barrier integrity and nitric and oxidative stress through the TLR-4/COX-2/NF-κB pathway.
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Acknowledgements
The work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Award number: 301981/2016-7).
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by CM, HF, FS, MS, JS, ÁF, ÂR, RM, MS, PS, AB. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Carlos Monteiro and André Barbosa, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Roberto Soares de Moura is the inventor of a patent (PCT/BR0200038) that supported the development of a new patent application (PCT/BR2007/000178). The other authors state no declaration of interest.
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Monteiro, C.E.d.S., Filho, H.B.d.C., Silva, F.G.O. et al. Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) attenuates experimental colitis in rats: involvement of TLR4/COX-2/NF-ĸB. Inflammopharmacol 29, 193–204 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-020-00763-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-020-00763-x