protective effect of a formulation containing pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin and honey on experimental model of acetic acid-induced colitis in rats

Background and objectives: inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) is a recurrent chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. in iranian traditional medicine, the oleo-gum-resin of the genus pistacia is recommended for treatment of various diseases including gastrointestinal disorders. the present study investigated the therapeutic action of a combination of pistacia atlantica subspecies kurdica oleo-gum-resin and honey in acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. methods: pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin was mixed with honey. the mixture was suspended in distilled water. following induction of colitis with 4% acetic acid in all animals, except in sham group, the mixture was orally administered for two consecutive days at the concentrations of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg. other groups included the control, sham and a standard group (dexamethasone). microscopic and histopathologic examinations were conducted in inflamed colonic tissue. the inflammatory biomarkers of colitis including interleukin 6 (il-6), tumor necrosis factor (tnf-α), and myeloperoxidase (mpo) and the gene expression level of toll like receptor-4 (tlr-4) were assessed. results: pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin+ honey induced significant progress in macroscopic and microscopic scores. colonic levels of mpo, il-6, and tnf-α significantly declined in rats treated with the mixture; while significant decrease in mucosal gene expression of tlr-4 and significant improvement of colitis were observed. pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin (400 mg/kg) + honey (400 mg/kg) reduced inflammation of the bowel and colonic ulcer severity shown by downregulation of inflammation cytokines, reduction of neutrophil infiltration, and suppression of tlr-4 expression. conclusion: the combination might be a promising supplement for treatment of inflammatory disorders.