Therapeutic Effects of 6‐Gingerol, 8‐Gingerol, and 10‐Gingerol on Dextran Sulfate Sodium‐Induced Acute Ulcerative Colitis in Rats

Ulcerative colitis is one of the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease and is multifactorial and relapsing. 6‐Gingerol, a component of gingerols extracted from ginger (Zingiber officinale), has been reported to improve ulcerative colitis. The present study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of two analogous forms of 6‐gingerol, 8‐gingerol, and 10‐gingerol, on ulcerative colitis. Colitis was induced in rats through consumption of 5% (w/v) dextran sulfate sodium drinking water for 7 consecutive days. 6‐Gingerol, 8‐gingerol, and 10‐gingerol were then given intraperitoneally at doses of 30 mg kg−1 d−1 for another 7 days, respectively. Body weight change, disease activity index, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress indices were measured, and the colonic tissue injuries were assessed macroscopically and histopathologically. Results showed that all three gingerols attenuated colitic symptoms evoked by dextran sulfate sodium, significantly elevated superoxide dismutase activity, decreased malondialdehyde levels and myeloperoxidase activity in the colon tissue, and markedly reduced the content of tumor necrosis factor alpha and Interleukin 1 beta in the serum. Histological observations showed that all three gingerols obviously accelerated mucosal damage healing. It is concluded that 6‐gingerol, 8‐gingerol, and 10‐gingerol, the three analogues, have a strong and relatively equal efficacy in the treatment of colitis. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.