Anatabine Shows Promise for Colitis in Pre-Clinicals

GLEN ALLEN, Va.Anatabine, an alkaloid found in tobacco plants, showed positive preliminary results in an animal study of ulcerative colitis. Star Scientific, Inc. and its subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, released data from the mouse study of anatabine's effects on idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Researchers at the University of Virginia gave mice dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) in their drinking water to induce bowel inflammation. Animals also given anatabine had a significantly (p < 0.05) lower score in the primary clinical disease activity index than the DSS-only group. The treatment reduced diarrhea and watery stool, both markers of disease activity. Researchers plan to further investigate the alkaloid's effects on these digestive diseases.

Patients with IBD have found relief with other natural ingredients, such as krill oil and mushroom extract. In 2011, researchers suggested vitamin D deficiency may play a role in IBD for both adults and children.