Effects on Disease Activity Index in Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Objective: To imply the coloprotective role of Coenzyme Q10 and its activity when combined with an already
established therapeutic agent; mesalazine in a rat model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis.
Effects on the ulcerative colitis activity index, a derived parameter from the percentage of weight loss during
the disease course, stool consistency, and blood in stool (either occult or gross), were observed in this study.
Material and Methods: This animal experimental study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology,
KEMU and UVAS (University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences), Lahore. Six groups of 8 rats each were
kept in separate cages according to the animal ethical rules. The disease was induced by giving 4% w/v
Dextran Sulfate Sodium solution for drinking in rats of disease control and experimental groups. Rats were
treated with mesalazine and Coenzyme Q10 according to the assigned groups i.e., mesalazine at a dose of
50mg/kg/day in group E, and 100mg/kg/day in groups C and F, and Coenzyme Q10 at a dose of 30mg/kg/day
in groups D and F. The body weight of each rat, and its stool consistency were observed, and its stool was
examined for gross and occult blood daily. From these values, the ulcerative colitis activity index was also
calculated daily throughout the study.
Results: After statistical analysis, the p-value came out to be significant. So, we can say that the study
confirmed that combining mesalazine and CoQ10 has synergistic effects in reducing the Ulcerative Colitis
Activity Index.
Conclusion: In conclusion, mesalazine and CoQ10 alone and in combination have been shown to have
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in UC. The combination of mesalazine and CoQ10 has been shown
to have synergistic effects in reducing the severity of UC in animal studies. Further clinical trials are
necessary to investigate the exact mechanism of CoQ10 in IBD and its potential as an agent for the therapy of UC
Keywords: ulcerative colitis, mesalazine, coenzyme-Q10, dextran sulfate sodium, body weight, stool
consistency, blood in stool, ulcerative colitis activity index, disease activity index.