Protective effects of selenium and vitamin E combination on experimental colitis in blood plasma and colon of rats

Ulcerative colitis increases oxidative damage accompanied by production of free oxygen radicals. Selenium (Se) and vitamin E are two natural antioxidants. The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible protective role of Se and vitamin E combination in experimental colitis induced by acetic acid (AA) in rats. This study was carried out on three groups, namely the first (control), the second (experimental colitis group, 2 ml 5% acetic acid), and the third groups (2 ml 5% acetic acid, vitamin E (100 mg/kg body weight (bw)) plus Se (0.2 mg/kg bw)). The activities of catalase (CAT), prolidase (PRS), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), total thiol (T-SH) were determined in plasma and colon samples. Macroscopic and microscopic damages in colon were increased by AA treatment (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively), whereas they were decreased by selenium and vitamin E treatment (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The activities of CAT and PRS in the plasma and colon were significantly affected (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) by treatment of AA, Se, and vitamin E. MPO activity in colon was increased (p < 0.01) by AA treatment and decreased (p < 0.05) by Se and vitamin E administration. The values of TOS and OSI in plasma were increased (p < 0.5) by AA. The TAC and T-SH in colon were decreased (p < 0.05) by AA and increased (p < 0.05) by Se and vitamin E. Based upon these results, Se and vitamin E may play an important role in preventive indication of the oxidative damage associated by acetic acid caused inflammation.