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Emu Oil Improves Clinical Indicators of Disease in a Mouse Model of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer

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Abstract

Background/Aims

Ulcerative colitis is a remitting and relapsing inflammatory bowel disorder. Current treatments are limited, and if poorly controlled, colitis may progress to colorectal cancer. Previously, Emu Oil protected the intestine in experimental models of gut damage. We aimed to determine whether Emu Oil could reduce the severity of chronic colitis and prevent the onset of neoplasia in a mouse model of colitis-associated colorectal cancer.

Methods

Female C57BL/6 mice were injected (day 0) with azoxymethane, followed by ad libitum access to three dextran sulfate sodium/water cycles (7 days of dextran sulfate sodium and 14 days of water). Mice (n = 9/group) were orally administered either water or Emu Oil (low dose 80 µL or high dose 160 µL), thrice weekly for 9 weeks. Bodyweight and disease activity index were measured daily. Colitis progression was monitored by colonoscopy on days 20, 41 and 62. At killing, tumor number and size were recorded.

Results

Azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium induced significant bodyweight loss (maximum 24%) which was attenuated by Emu Oil treatment (low dose days 9, 10, 14: maximum 7%; high dose days 7–15, 30–36: maximum 11%; p < 0.05). Emu Oil reduced disease activity index of azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium mice at most time points (maximum 20%; p < 0.05). Additionally, Emu Oil reduced colonoscopically assessed colitis severity (days 20 and 62) compared to disease controls (p < 0.05). Finally, in azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium mice, low-dose Emu Oil resulted in fewer small colonic tumors (p < 0.05) compared to controls.

Conclusions

Emu Oil improved clinical indicators and reduced severity of colitis-associated colorectal cancer, suggesting therapeutic potential in colitis management.

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Acknowledgments

S.M. is the recipient of a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career (Peter Doherty) Biomedical Postdoctoral Fellowship. The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Alexandra Whittaker for burrowing input and Dr. Tamsin Lannagan for colonoscopy expertise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Physiology, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Lauren C. Chartier, Gordon S. Howarth, Scott J. Barker & Suzanne Mashtoub

  2. Gastroenterology Department, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA, 5006, Australia

    Lauren C. Chartier, Gordon S. Howarth, Scott J. Barker & Suzanne Mashtoub

  3. School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA, Australia

    Gordon S. Howarth

  4. School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, WA, Australia

    Ian C. Lawrance, Debbie Trinder & Suzanne Mashtoub

  5. Centre for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Saint John of God Hospital, Subiaco, WA, Australia

    Ian C. Lawrance

  6. Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, WA, Australia

    Debbie Trinder

Authors
  1. Lauren C. Chartier
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  2. Gordon S. Howarth
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  3. Ian C. Lawrance
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  4. Debbie Trinder
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  5. Scott J. Barker
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  6. Suzanne Mashtoub
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suzanne Mashtoub.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Chartier, L.C., Howarth, G.S., Lawrance, I.C. et al. Emu Oil Improves Clinical Indicators of Disease in a Mouse Model of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer. Dig Dis Sci 63, 135–145 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-017-4876-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-017-4876-4

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