ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF MONOAMMONIUM GLYCYRRHIZINATE ON EXPERIMENTAL COLITIS

Monoammonium glycyrrhizinate (MAG), as a derivative of glycyrrhizic acid, has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti tumour, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-ulcer and hepatoprotective effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of MAG on hapten-induced experimental colitis. MAG in doses of 30 and 50 mg/kg bw was injected intraperitoneally for 6 days, starting one day before inducing colitis with 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. On day 6, colon segments were scored for macroscopic and histological damage. Blood samples were taken in order to measure levels of cytokines by ELISA methods. Our data showed that MAG at a dose of 50 mg/kg bw improved clinical symptoms and macroscopic and histological damage to the colon in all the rats with colitis. MAG significantly affected the serum concentrations of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1 and IL-6 and the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 on day 6 after induction of colitis. These findings indicate that MAG significantly inhibits colonic inflammatory damage in a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease.