Histochemical investigation of the effects of Cyclamen graecum extracts on the rat lower gastrointestinal system

Aim: it is known that saponins, triterpenoid or steroidal glycosides, have effects on gastrointestinal system (gis) and mucus. cyclamen graecum , a tuberous plant belonging to the primulaceae family, contains cyclamin as the main saponin. in the present study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of c. graecum tubers ethanolic extracts at the concentrations of 0.1 and 0.3 g/l on the rat lower gis histomorphology and mucus intensity. material-method: in this study, rats were allocated to 3 groups, each comprising 5 rats [group i: control group, physiologic saline was administered; group ii: experimental group, 0.1 g/l(aq) c. graecum extract was administered; group iii: experimental group, 0.3 g/l(aq) c. graecum extract was administered]. c. graecum tubers ethanolic extracts were given orally to the rats during 10 weeks. at the end of the experimental period, hematoxylin and eosin (h&e), periodic acid-schiff (pas), alcian blue (ab) ph 1 and ab ph 2.5 histochemical staining techniques were employed on the tissue samples of small and large intestines in order to demonstrate the histomorphological structures, the neutral, sulphated and acidic mucosubstances, respectively. results: in both experimental groups, small and large intestine histomorphology, and ab and pas positive reaction intensities of neutral, acidic, and sulphated mucosubstances were similar to the control group. discussion: it can be suggested that the c. graecum ethanolic extract has no effect on the rat lower gis histomorphology and mucus intensity at the administered doses in our study.