Citrus limon Juice Promotes Healing of Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Enhancing Colonic Antioxidant Defense, Immune Response, and Microbial Balance in Cadmium Exposed Male Wistar Rats

Serah Funke Ige

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Oluwaseun Bayode Ademilua *

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Taiwo Adebayo Ajagbe

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Regina Damilola Efunwole

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Fiyinfoluwa Helen Ogundipe

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Kilan Abdulroheem

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Adeola Muslimah Yusuf

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Favour Adekunle

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Precious Obalalu

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Oluwakemi Joseph

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Rohimot Adetutu Ogunfuyi

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Joy Damilola Bolaji

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) an inflammatory disease, causing damage to the colon lining is intensified by long term exposure to cadmium chloride (CdCl2) resulting in altered barrier and microbial population. Citrus limon has various antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gut microbial modulating properties. Hence, the study aims to determine Citrus limon juice (CLJ) effect on colitis healing of cadmium exposed rats. Sixty-four male Wistar rats weighing 200g ± 20g were randomly divided into control group, CdCl2 group, UC group, CLJ group, CdCl2 + UC group, CdCl2 + CLJ group, UC + CLJ group and CdCl2 + UC + CLJ group. 5mg/kg of CdCl2 and 7.5ml/kg of CLJ was administered orally for 25 days. Colitis was induced on day 16, 17 and 18 with 2% acetic acid. Compared to control group, colitis group elicited significant increase in colon weight, colonosomatic index, glutathione (GSH), 8-hydroxy-2-guanosine (8-OHdG), malonidialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), lymphocytes, Escherichia. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, fecal Pseudomonas spp, but decrease in body weight, red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, colonic Klebsiella spp, and moderate inflammatory cells infiltration. Also, CdCl2 + UC elicited a significant increase in colon weight, colonosomatic index, superoxide-dismutase (SOD), 8-OHdG, MDA, lymphocytes, basophils, colonic E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, fecal Pseudomonas spp, severe inflammatory cells infiltration and epithelial damage compared to control and UC groups. Treatment of CdCl2 + UC with CLJ prevented epithelial damage, cells infiltration, decreased SOD, GSH, MPO, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), lymphocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, fecal Pseudomonas spp, increased colonic Klebsiella spp. Citrus limon juice ameliorated intensification and delayed healing of ulcerative colitis caused by cadmium exposure, by regulating colonic antioxidant-immune defense system and microbial population. These findings suggest that CLJ may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for mitigating the effect of cadmium chloride in the healing of ulcerative colitis.

Keywords: Citrus limon juice, ulcerative colitis, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, myeloperoxidase, hematology, microbial population, inflammatory cells


How to Cite

Ige, Serah Funke, Oluwaseun Bayode Ademilua, Taiwo Adebayo Ajagbe, Regina Damilola Efunwole, Fiyinfoluwa Helen Ogundipe, Kilan Abdulroheem, Adeola Muslimah Yusuf, Favour Adekunle, Precious Obalalu, Oluwakemi Joseph, Rohimot Adetutu Ogunfuyi, and Joy Damilola Bolaji. 2025. “Citrus Limon Juice Promotes Healing of Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Enhancing Colonic Antioxidant Defense, Immune Response, and Microbial Balance in Cadmium Exposed Male Wistar Rats”. Asian Journal of Research and Reports in Gastroenterology 8 (1):6-26. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajrrga/2025/v8i1157.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.