Anti-inflammatory effect of extract of Terminalia sericea roots in an experimental model of colitis

Sericoside is a traditional herbal saponin from Terminalia sericea (Family: Combretaceae). We studied the anti-inflammatory effect of sericoside on acute inflammatory colitis induced by ethanolic 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid in male rats. Intestinal mucosa lesions were judged by their macroscopic damage score and measuring by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Pretreatment of sericoside (30 mg/kg daily by gavage for 10 days) significantly reduced the macroscopic damage score and inhibited MPO activity. These results showed that sericoside attenuated the inflammatory effect and suggested its possible role in treating acute inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.