AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF HELIX ASPERSA CRUDE EXTRACT AGAINST COLONIC DAMAGES INDUCED BY HYPERHOMOCYSTEINEMIA IN RATS

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Helix aspersa crude extract on colonic injury resulting from hyperhomocysteinemia induced by feeding rats high methionine diet. Wistar albino rats (200-250g) were divided into four groups. Hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) was induced by methionine treatment (1g/kg/day) for 15 days. M group received only Methionine, MH and MP received Methionine and Helix aspersa Crude Extract (8g/kg/day) or Prednisolone (4 mg/kg/day) respectively at the 8th day until the end of experimentation. Prednisolone was used as a standard drug.  At the end plasma homocysteine and C-reactive protein were evaluated, followed by colon histopathological investigations. Methionine treatment induced significant increase (P <0.001) in homocysteine and CRP levels in plasma as compared to control rats.  Helix aspersa crude extract induces significant decreased of homocysteine (P <0.001) and CRP (P <0.01) levels as compared with experimental control group. The results were comparable to those obtained with prednisolone, a standard anti-inflammatory drug. Histological assessment showed colonic tissue damages in methionine treated group compared to control (P <0.001) as mucosal inflammation, crypt damage and hyperemia. Crude extract markedly reduces the damage induced by the Hhcy and preserved the histo-architecture of colonic tissue compared to M group (P <0.001).  This study provides clear evidence that Helix aspersa crude extract treatment decrease the major inflammatory markers homocysteine and CRP. Also it acts as a potent protective agent of colon against the inflammatory state induced by elevated level of plasma homocysteine.