Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on intestinal damage in necrotizing enterocolitis.

To determine the preventative effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in an experimental rat model of NEC. Thirty newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups; as NEC, NEC + CAPE and control. NEC was induced by enteral formula feeding, subjected to hypoxia-hyperoxia and cold stress. Pups in the NEC + CAPE group were treated with CAPE at a dose of 30 mg/kg daily by intraperitoneal route from the first day to the end of the study. All pups were executed on the fourth day. Proximal colon and ileum were allocated for histopathologic and biochemical evaluation, including xanthine oxidase (XO), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), malonaldehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities. The pups in the NEC + CAPE group had better histopathologic and apoptosis evaluations (TUNEL and caspase-9) and the severity of bowel damage was significantly lower in the NEC + CAPE group compared to the NEC group (P < 0.01). The clinical sickness scores and body weight in the NEC + CAPE group was significantly better compared to the NEC group (P < 0.05). Tissue MDA, MPO, XO levels and TOS were remarkably reduced in the NEC + CAPE group, however, TAS was significantly increased in the NEC + CAPE group (P < 0.05). Treatment with CAPE reduces the intestinal damage in NEC.