Abstract

Background/Aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that mainly involves the colon. Thus far, glucocorticoids and amino-salicylate have been the main treatment. Methods: To assess drugs with fewer side effects, this study evaluated the effects of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) on acetic acid-induced UC in rats. The treatment groups included SCG receivers (50 and 100 mg/kg, intra-orally) and sulfasalazine (SSZ) receivers (100 mg/kg, intra-orally). The colonic mucosal injury was assessed by clinical, macroscopic, and histopathological examinations. Results: In the treatment groups with 50 and 100 mg/kg of SCG, the clinical activity score decreased to 2.67+/-0.18 and 1.73+/-0.21 (p<0.05), respectively, compared to the UC control group (3.21+/-0.31), and were higher than that of the group given the standard treatment of 100 mg/kg SSZ (1.10+/-0.09). The treatment groups with 50 and 100 mg/kg of SCG showed a lower clinical gross lesion score than the UC control group (2.91+/-0.28 and 2.10+/-0.43, vs. 4.49+/-0.61, p<0.05) and were higher than the standard group (0.95+/-0.18). Treatment with SCG (100 mg/kg) decreased the macroscopic scores significantly compared to the UC control group (p<0.05) on the 8th day. Conclusions: SCG (100mg/kg) decreased significantly the clinical activity score, gross lesion, and percentage-affected area compared to the UC controls on the 8th day.