ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Members of beta blockers drugs possess significant antioxidant activities. The current research is to assess the effect of the labetalol on acetic acid (AA-induced) colitis in rat model. METHODS: Forty adult Wistar rats were separated into 4 groups, including the negative control group, AA group, AA + sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg/day) group, and AA + labetalol (300 mg/kg/day) group. Colitis was induced in rats by the interrectal installation of 2 mL of 4% (v/v) AA. Sulfasalazine and labetalol were administered orally for 7 days after 2 hours of induction. The following parameters were measured: disease activity index (DAI), histopa-thological changes and colon tissue homogenate concentrations of proinflammatory mediators IL-1ß, adhesion molecules ICAM-1, and oxidative stress marker myeloperoxidase (MPO). RESULTS: The treatment with labetalol significantly reduced DAI and histopathological changes induced by AA. Also, labetalol markedly decreased the concentrations of IL-1ß, ICAM-1, and MPO in colonic tissue that were increased by AA. The effects of labetalol were significantly lower than that produced by sulfasalazine as standard drug. CONCLUSIONS: Labetalol exerts ameliorative effects on disease activity and histopathological features of AA-induced colitis in rats possibly through antioxidant effects and inhibition of inflammatory mediators.