Snur Hassan - Department of Anatomy and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sulaimani University, Kurdistan, Iraq
Ali Hassan - Department of Anatomy and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sulaimani University, Kurdistan, Iraq

Objective(s): This study aimed to investigate the effect of Shogaol on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)- induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice compared to an immune-suppressant chemotherapeutic medicine, known as ۶-thioguanine (۶-TG). Materials and Methods: Thirty-six adult BALB/c mice were divided into six groups: group ۱ (positive control): no DSS exposure and no treatment; group ۲ (negative control): DSS exposure without treatment; group ۳ (vehicle control): DSS exposure and olive oil treatment; group ۴: DSS exposure and ۰.۳ mg/kg ۶-TG treatment; group ۵: DSS exposure and ۲۰ mg/kg Shogaol treatment; and group ۶: DSS exposure and ۴۰ mg/kg Shogaol treatment. At day ۱۶, the mice were euthanized and UC was evaluated according to colon length, histologically index score and expression scores of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).Results: The disease activity index (DAI) and histological index scores of mice treated with ۴۰ mg/kg body weight (BW) Shogaol were approximately lower than the corresponding scores of mice treated with ۶-TG. In addition, the rate of healing in the former mice was approximately ۳ folds higher than that of the latter ones as indicated by the lack of EGFR expression in colonic glands and macrophages. Conclusion: These findings showed that the therapeutic effect of ۴۰ mg/kg BW Shogaol could be better than ۶-TG in the treatment of UC, and it may draw the attention regarding the priority of using this cheap plant-derived substance for treatment of the inflammatory bowel diseases because treatment with ۶-TG is usually associated with adverse side effects.

Albino mice, Colitis, Dextran sodium sulfate, IBD, Shogaol, ۶-thioguanine