The prophylactic effects of superoxide dismutase, catalase, desferrioxamine, verapamil and disulfiram in experimental colitis.

In our study we have tried to compare the prophylactic effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD), SOD+catalase (CAT), desferrioxamine, verapamil and disulfiram, which are all free oxygen radical (FOR) scavengers, in an animal model of experimental acetic acid colitis. The control group had 58.3% colonic ulcers. The SOD group (48.6% ulcerated area) and the SOD+CAT group (47.2% ulcerated area) did not show a significant difference when compared with the control group. The values were significantly different in all other groups when compared with the control group (desferrioxamine (29.2% ulcerated area): P < 0.01; verapamil (10.4% ulcerated area) and disulfiram (7.6% ulcerated area): P < 0.001. In conclusion, desferrioxamine, verapamil and disulfiram have been found to be effective as prophylactics in experimental acetic acid colitis.