Abstract
The intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of two flavonoids, hesperidin and diosmin,
was evaluated in the acute stage of the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) model
of rat colitis. The results obtained showed that pretreatment with diosmin (10 mg/kg)
or hesperidin (10 and 25 mg/kg) reduced colonic damage compared to TNBS control rats.
This effect was confirmed biochemically by a reduction in colonic myeloperoxidase
activity compared to non-treated colitic animals. Colonic glutathione levels in colitic
animals were significantly increased after hesperidin or diosmin treatment. Diosmin
decreased colonic MDA production and inhibited LTB4 synthesis, whereas hesperidin failed to do so. Conversely, only hesperidin improved
colonic fluid absorption, which was impaired in colitic animals. In conclusion, both
diosmin and hesperidin were able to prevent colonic inflammation, acting via a mechanism
in which protection against oxidative insult may play a role.
