Blumea lacera DC., accelerates the healing of acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis in rats by regulating oxidative stress and colonic inflammation: in-vivo and in silico molecular docking experiments

To expound the protective outcome of standardised hydroalcoholic extract of Blumea lacera (EEBL) in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Further, in silico computational experiments were performed to identify the inhibitory activity of bioactive constituents of EEBL against inflammatory targets. Rats were pre-treated with EEBL (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 7 days and on eighth day, UC was induced by intrarectal instillation of 2 ml of 4% v/v acetic acid and treatment continues till 11th day. Colonic injury was examined by clinical activity score and mucosal inflammation was assessed by colon wet weight, macroscopic scoring and histopathological examination. In addition, colonic contractility studies and biochemical analysis were carried out. Further, bioactive compounds from title plant were subjected to drug likeness prediction and molecular docking studies against myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD-2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Pre-treatment with both the doses of EEBL significantly ameliorated the acetic acid-induced colonic injury and these results were parallels with biochemical and histopathology examinations. Out of fifteen selected bioactive compounds, 5-hydroxy-3methyl-3,6,7,4-tetramethoxy flavones, lachnophyllic acid and d-fenchone exhibited better drug likeness property with higher docking score. The observed protective outcome might be recognized due to the synergistic effect of identified bioactive compounds by inhibition of key targets of inflammation.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated the protective effect of standardized hydroalcoholic extract of Blumea lacera against acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis, and identified potential bioactive compounds with inhibitory activity against inflammatory targets through both experimental and computational studies.