Mashaal Saddiqa¹, Huma Umbreen^2,, Tahir Zahoor³, Nighat Bhatty⁴, Kiran Aftab⁵

Immunomodulation counterbalances the inflammation in the intestines and regulates hypersensitivity in the host through gut microflora. Microflora comprises alive microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract that produce vitamins, short chain fatty acids (SCFA’s) and play an important role in immunomodulation. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease prevalent in all parts of the world, general indications are fever and inflammation of the colon which leads to reduced absorption of nutrients and weight loss. Manifestation of UC can be reduced via immune system regulation through gut microflora by the use of prebiotics. Inulin is an established prebiotic therefore in the present study it was used with yogurt for immunomodulation. Garlic extract not only provides antioxidants, and nutrients but also contains 80% inulin which stays non-digested until it enters the colon. The present study aimed to discover the effect of inulin rich garlic extract based yogurt on the immune system of normal and DSS (Dextran Sodium Sulphate) induced colitic Sprague dawley rats and its effect on inflammatory markers. Four groups of Sprague dawley rats were used with three replicates having three animals in each replicate. Rats were given yogurt enriched with garlic extract according to their weight for three weeks and Colitis was induced with DSS earlier. Results from inflammatory markers like tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-6), immunoglobulin (IgG), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) showed a decreasing trend of inflammation after the use of garlic extract based yogurt, weight gain also improved after the consumption of garlic extract yogurt due to the effect of prebiotic named inulin present in the extract.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), garlic extract, inulin, immunomodulation