Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Resveratrol ameliorates necrotizing enterocolitis in neonatal rats through regulation of inflammatory and apoptotic pathways

Xiaodong Hu, Tao Chen, He Xiao, Wang Liu, Tingbing Xie, Lihe Zheng, Dan Wang, Qi Ruan

Department of General Surgery, Chengfei Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610091, China;

For correspondence:- Qi Ruan Email: 3097317821@qq.com Tel:+862887407832

Accepted: 22 September 2021 Published: 31 October 2021

Citation: Hu X, Chen T, Xiao H, Liu W, Xie T, Zheng L, et al. Resveratrol ameliorates necrotizing enterocolitis in neonatal rats through regulation of inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(10):2083-2088 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i10.11

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of resveratrol in mitigating necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in neonatal rats.

Methods: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) was induced in neonatal rats using hypoxia and hypothermia. At the completion of treatment, the intestinal tissues of the rats were isolated for evaluation of various biochemical parameters.

Results: There was significant increase in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) and oxidative stress markers (MDA, xanthine oxidase and nitric oxide) in intestinal tissues of NEC rats (p < 0.05). However, resveratrol treatment led to significant decrease in the levels of cytokines and oxidative stress parameters, relative to the NEC group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Western blotting results showed up-regulation in protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines in NEC rats. However, the protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines were down-regulated in the NEC rats on treatment with resveratrol. Moreover, resveratrol reversed the NEC-induced up-regulations of Bax and caspase-3, as well as NEC-mediated down-regulation of Bcl-2.

Conclusion: These results demonstrate that resveratrol mitigates NEC-induced intestinal damage in neonatal rats via anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and antioxidant mechanisms of action. Therefore, resveratrol is a potential therapeutic agent for NEC.

Keywords: Resveratrol, Necrotizing enterocolitis, Neonate, Inflammation, Oxidative stress, Apoptosis