Dietary intervention with narrow-leaved cattail rhizomes flour (Typha angustifolia L.) prevents intestinal inflammation in trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation of intestinal epithelium driven by intestinal immune system, oxidative stress and loss of tolerance to the luminal microbiota. The use of dietary products containing ingredients like fibers and carbohydrates and/or antioxidant compounds have been used as a therapeutic strategy for intestinal diseases because these products are considered effective in the modulation of immune system and colonic microbiota. We investigated the beneficial effects of cattail rhizomes flour (Typha angustifolia L.), in trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis as well as its effects on the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of prednisolone, a reference drug used for treatment of human IBD. Methods: The study included (i) preparation of flour from rhizomes of cattail (Typha angustifolia L.), (ii) evaluation of qualitative phytochemical profile of cattail rhizomes, (iii) evaluation of cattail rhizomes flour efficacy in TNBS-induced rat colitis, (iv) evaluation of the synergistic effects of cattail rhizomes flour on the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of prednisolone, and (v) macroscopic, clinical, biochemical, histo-pathological and microbiological studies to assess the healing effects of cattail rhizomes flour and its synergistic effects in TNBS-induced rat colitis. Data were analyzed by Anova, Kurskal-Wallis and χ tests. Results: The dietary supplementation with 10% cattail rhizome flour in an intermediate concentration tested, showed the better effects reducing extension of lesion, colon weight ratio, adherences to adjacent organs and diarrhea. These effects were related to inhibition of mieloperoxidase (MPO) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities, counteraction of glutathione (GSH) depletion. The 10% cattail rhizome flour was as effective as prednisolone and no synergistic effects were observed. Saponins, flavonoids and coumarins were detected in rhizomes flour. No changes were observed on the total number of lactic bacteria after diet supplementation with cattail rhizomes flour. Conclusions: Dietary supplementation with 10% cattail rhizomes flour and its combination with prednisolone prevent TNBS-induced colonic damage in rats, but no synergistic effects were observed. This effect was associated to an improvement on intestinal oxidative stress, probably derived from active antioxidant properties of active compounds detected in the cattail rhizome. This protective effect was not related to prebiotics properties of the cattail rhizomes flour.