Abstract Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organic sulfur-containing natural compound without any toxicity. MSM may have anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activity. The present work was done to investigate the possible protective effects of methylsulfonylmethane on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Colitis was induced by intracolonic injection of 5% acetic acid. Several parameters including macroscopic score, histopathological and biochemical parameters such as myeloperoxidase activity and glutathione levels were measured following standard assay procedures. Results showed that MSM decreased macroscopic and microscopic colonic damage scores caused by administration of acetic acid. MSM also significantly reduced colonic levels of MPO and increased the levels of GSH compared to acetic acid-induced colitis group. It seems that MSM as a natural product was able to give a nearly complete protection against acetic acid-induced colitis.
Keywords methylsulfonylmethane, ulcerative colitis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant.