Lycopene Ameliorates Experimental Colitis in Rats via Reducing Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammatory disorder involving colitis. Lycopene is a naturally occurring carotenoid that has attracted considerable attention as a potential chemopreventive agent. The impact of lycopene on colitis is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of lycopene in a rat model of colitis induced by acetic acid. The animals were randomly divided into the following five groups: the control group, colitis group, colitis + sulfasalazine group as a positive control group, colitis + lycopene and lycopene groups. Colonic mucosal injury was assessed by biochemical and histopathological examinations. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total antioxidant status (TAS), ceruloplasmin (CPN), total sialic acid and iron (Fe) levels were evaluated in blood samples. MDA, SOD, TAS and DNA fragmentation levels were also measured in colon tissues. MDA (p < 0.05), total sialic acid (p < 0.05) and DNA fragmentation levels (p < 0.01) were significantly higher, and the activity of the antioxidant enzyme were lower in the colitis group than in the control group. Treatments with lycopene in the colitis decreased MDA, total sialic acid and DNA fragmentation levels, while SOD activity (p < 0.05), TAS (in colon p < 0.05; in serum p < 0.01), CPN (p < 0.05) and Fe levels (p < 0.05) were significantly increased. The histopathological evaluation also confirmed the foregoing findings. Treatment with lycopene ameliorated the biochemical and pathological alterations caused by colitis. The results obtained in this study indicate that lycopene may exert protective effects in experimental colitis and might, therefore, be useful for treatment of IBD.

Lycopene as a Natural Antioxidant Used to Prevent Human Health Disorders

“…Lycopene decreased neuronal oxidative damage by activating Nrf2, as well as by inactivating NF-κB translocation in H 2 O 2 -related SH-SY5Y cell model [65]. Moreover, in a rat model of colitis, it significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA), overall sialic acid, DNA fragmentation concentration, and improved the function of the antioxidant enzyme [108]. In addition, lycopene has significant effects against pathological findings caused by carbofuran on oxidative and biochemical stress biomarkers.…”

<p>Lycopene protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening</p>

“…Lycopene (LP) is a well-established potent antioxidant extracted from the mature fruits of plants 6,7. The range of biological effects of LP include the suppression of oxidative stress,8 tumor formation9 and inflammation 10. Lycopene has been demonstrated to serve a role in protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in neonatal rats 11…”

Lycopene mitigates experimental colitis in rats by inhibiting oxidative stress-mediated inflammation and apoptosis

“…Lycopene has been found to stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10, which controls the inflammation (Feng et al, 2010). Similarly, Baykalir et al (2017) reported that, lycopene probably exhibited this protective effect based on its potent antioxidant properties during colitis. The histological damage in colon disrupts the mucosal barrier function and exacerbates inflammation further by increasing intestinal permeability, which is one of the etio-pathological factors in the development of IBD (Lopetuso et al, 2015).…”