Role of monolaurin additive with medium-chain fatty acids against dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis through down regulating the oxidative stress in wistar rats

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the persistent inflammation of Gastrointestinal tract (GIT). IBD mainly divided into ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The Crohn's disease affects the whole gastrointestinal tract, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. The current experimental study elucidates the antioxidative and microbial homeostatic efficacy of monolaurin, monolaurin with butyric acid and propionic acid in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) induced acute colitis in rat model. The results revealed that total antioxidant capacity was significantly raised in all the treatment groups compared to the positive control group. While the results of total oxidative stress and relevant gene expression analysis revealed that mRNA expression of cell stress pathways such as Traf-4, Traf-6 and MAPK-8 genes (Mitogen activated Protein Kinase) pathways and Calm-2, Gerk-2 and Pias-2 genes (Calcium signaling pathways) were significantly higher expressed in the positive control group as compared to all the treatment groups. Total antioxidant capacity and NFR-1, Keap-1 and Nef-212 (Nrf2 signaling cascade) were significantly down expressed in the positive control group as compared to all the treatment groups. Histopathological study revealed that disruption of intestinal mucosa and immune infiltration in the positive control group, while restoration and regeneration of intestinal parenchyma were observed in all the treatment groups. Overall study results concluded that monolaurin, monolaurin with butyric acid and propionic acid can develop innovative, customized remedies against DSS-induced acute colitis. Keywords: Oxidative stress, Dextran sulfate sodium, Inflammatory bowel disease, Antioxidant capacity, Nrf-2 signaling