For this purpose, we assayed the effects of the green dwarf banana flour and their combination with prednisolone in preventing the acute inflammatory response induced by trinitrobenzensulphonic acid (TNBS). In this experimental model, macroscopic, microscopic, and biochemical parameters were evaluated. All chemicals were supplied by Sigma

(St Louis, Mo) and were freshly prepared for each animal administration or biochemical evaluation. Sirolimus The enriched diet with green dwarf banana flour was manufactured in the School of Medicine, São Paulo State University, UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil. Green dwarf banana fruits (Musa spp AAA) were collected in Botucatu City, São Paulo, Brazil, in December 2010. The plant was identified by taxonomists from Irina Felanova Gemtchjnicov Herbarium (Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University,

UNESP), where a voucher specimen was deposited. After collection, the green banana fruits were AZD6244 washed, chopped, and dried at 50°C for 72 hours in a hothouse with forced air circulation and renewal. After drying, the dried fruits were powdered to produce flour. For the preparation of the enriched diet, the flour was added at a ratio of 10% and 20% in previously sprayed Labina-Purine food for rodents. After homogenization, water was added to produce a paste. The paste was then placed in a pelletizer to produce diet pellets containing 10% or 20% green dwarf banana flour. The ingredient composition of the diets was calculated from the major nutrients of the normal Labina-Purine, taking into account the addition of 10% or 20% green dwarf banana flour aminophylline (Table 1). Male Wistar rats (weighing 180-200 g) from the Central Animal House, São Paulo State University–UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, were housed in standard environmental conditions (21°C, 60%-70% humidity) under a 12-hour

light/dark cycle and air filtration. The animals had free access to water and food (Purina-Labine, São Paulo, Brazil). All experimental protocols met the Guidelines of Animal Experimentation approved by the Commission of Ethics in Animal Experimentation (protocol number 042/04-CEAE), Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University–UNESP. The rats were randomly assigned into 9 groups with 8 animals each. Two of the groups, a noncolitic group and a colitic group, received no treatment. Two additional noncolitic groups received an enriched diet with 10% and 20% dwarf banana flour for 21 days. Two colitic groups received an enriched diet with 10% and 20% dwarf banana flour for 14 days before colitis induction and 7 days thereafter. Two additional colitic groups received the enriched diet in the same conditions listed previously plus treatment with prednisolone administered at a dosage of 2 mg/kg for 3 days before colitis induction and 7 days thereafter. For comparison, the remaining group received only prednisolone (5 mg/kg) for 3 days before colitis induction and 7 days thereafter.