Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional disorder of the alimentary tract, characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort with altered bowel habits. Chrysin (CH), a flavonoid compound present in honey, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-allergic, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and anti-ageing properties. However, its potential use for treating Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBSC) has not yet been explored. Therefore, the current research aims to evaluate the effects of CH in ice water-induced IBSC. Methods: The male Wistar rats were divided into Normal Control (NC), IBS control, Prucalopride (1mg/kg, p.o.), and three different doses of CH (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, oral), (ice water was administered 2ml/animal/day, intragastrically) to all groups (except the NC group) for 14 days. The animals were evaluated for the Open Field Test (OFT), Forced Swim Test (FST), Fecal Water Content (FWC), Abdominal Withdrawal Reflex (AWR), gastric emptying, and intestinal propulsion rate. Serotonin levels in the brain and colon were estimated, and colon histopathology was performed. Results: The IBSC group showed depleted FWC, reduced rearing and grooming in OFT, decreased struggling time in FST, deteriorated AWR, reduced gastric emptying, reduced intestinal propulsion rate, decreased brain and colon serotonin levels, and histopathology indicating villus damage, as compared to NC. CH at a higher dose (p < 0.001) displayed significant improvement in AWR and behavioral parameters. It shows increased gastric emptying, intestinal propulsion rate, increased serotonin, as well as prevented villi damage. Thus, CH demonstrated efficacy in treating IBSC. Discussion: CH produced robust, multi-level therapeutic effects in the ice water-induced IBSC rat model. It enhanced GI motility and fecal hydration by elevating brain and colonic serotonin levels, reduced visceral hypersensitivity, and improved anxiety and depression like behaviors. Its antiinflammatory and mucosal protective actions were confirmed histologically. Overall, chrysin shows strong potential as a novel IBSC therapeutic agent. Conclusion: CH showed strong efficacy in IBSC symptoms by improving Gastrointestinal Motility (GI) and modulating serotonergic pathways, with associated behavioral and GI benefits. These multifactorial effects of CH potential as a novel therapeutic agent for IBSC warrant further clinical evaluation.
Sangale et al. (Mon,) studied this question.