Science & Research (Feb 2022)
INVESTIGATING THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF CHOLECALCIFEROL IN RATS WITH CARRAGEENAN-INDUCED INFLAMMATION
Abstract
Introduction: Beyond its effect in regulating calcium-phosphate homeostasis vitamin D has pleiotropic effects in the body. Recent data suggest that it is considered to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Objective: to investigate the effect of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) in rats with carrageenan-induced inflammation. Material and method: Male Wistar rats were divided in 6 groups (n=8): control; diclofenac (25 mg/kg bw), and four experimental groups - vitamin D3 500 and 1000 IU/kg bw, and vitamin D3 500 and 1000 IU/kg bw with diclofenac 12,5 mg/kg bw. Cholecalciferol was given by oral lavage for 2 weeks. Inflammation was induced by 1% carrageenan injection into the right hind-paw. The volume of the inflamed paw was measured at 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 24th hour. The hind paws were removed for morphological analysis. Results: in diclofenac-treated rats the paw volume was significantly lower compared to control at 3rd, 4th and 24th hour (p<0.05, p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). The animals with both doses of cholecalciferol significantly reduced the inflammation compared to control at 4th hour (p<0.05). The co-administration of cholecalciferol and diclofenac statistically reduced the inflammatory oedema in all measurements compared to control. The effect of the combination at the 4th and 24th hour was greater than that of vitamin D3 alone at both studied doses (p<0.01 and p<0.05, resp.). Histological examination revealed that cholecalciferol reduced the inflammatory response whereas co-administration with diclofenac led to almost complete lack of inflammatory changes as did diclofenac alone. Conclusion: cholecalciferol exerts anti-inflammatory properties and potentiates the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
