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

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.