Emu Oil reduces disease severity in a mouse model of chronic ulcerative colitis

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology 2019-03, Vol.54 (3), p.273-280
• Main Authors: Safaeian, Romina, Howarth, Gordon S., Lawrance, Ian C., Trinder, Debbie, Mashtoub, Suzanne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; chronic; Colitis, Ulcerative - chemically induced; Colitis, Ulcerative - drug therapy; Colon - pathology; Dextran Sulfate; Disease Models, Animal; Emu Oil; Female; inflammatory bowel disease; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Oils - pharmacology; Random Allocation; Ulcerative colitis
• ISSN: 0036-5521; 1502-7708
• DOI: 10.1080/00365521.2019.1581253

Objective: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by mucosal inflammation and ulceration of the large intestine. Emu Oil (EO) has been reported to protect the intestine against mucositis, NSAID-enteropathy, UC-associated colorectal cancer and acute UC. We aimed to determine whether EO could reduce the severity chronic UC in mice. Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice (n = 10/group) were orally administered (gavage) water (Groups 1-2) or EO (Groups 3: low dose-80 µl and 4: high dose-160 µl), thrice weekly. Group 1 mice consumed plain drinking water throughout the trial. Groups 2-4 mice underwent two cycles [each consisting of seven days dextran sulfate sodium (DSS; 2% w/v) and 14 days water], followed by a third DSS week. All mice were euthanized two days later (day 51). Bodyweight, disease activity index (DAI), burrowing activity, myeloperoxidase activity, crypt depth and histologically assessed damage severity were assessed. p