Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of ethyl pyruvate on colitis: In a rat model

In this study, we analyzed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP) in an experimental colitis model. Seventeen Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups: The sham group (n=3), in which no colitis was induced; the EP (n=7) and normal saline (NS) (n=7) group, in which colitis was induced. In EP and NS groups, 50 mg/kg of EP or NS was administered subcutaneously for 7 days. Weight changes in the rats were observed throughout the study. All rats were sacrificed on the seventh day. The injury in the resected distal colons was scored histopathologically and tissue malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. The injury scores of the NS group were found to be higher than those of the Sham group, whereas the scores were lower in the EP-administered group in comparison with both Sham and NS groups (p=0.002 and p=0.003, respectively). Although tissue MDA levels in the EP group were lower than that in the NS group, the difference was not significant. Although there was an apparent weight increase in the EP group compared with the NS group, it was not found to be statistically significant. The histopathological data indicated that EP reduced inflammatory injury in rats with colitis.