Rhubarb extract partially improves mucosal integrity in chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis

Table 2 Total daily food (g) and water (mL) intake, and faecal (g) and urine (mL) output for the trial period after the administration of 5-FU (days 6 to 8)

	Water + saline	Water + 5-FU	LDR + 5-FU	HDR + 5-FU
Food intake (g)	29.1 ± 0.6	11.5 ± 1.6e	7.8 ± 0.6	5.2 ± 1.4d
Water intake (mL)	75.0 ± 4.3	94.4 ± 7.7	107.2 ± 5.1	90.6 ± 12.9
Wet faecal output (g)	3.3 ± 0.2	2.9 ± 0.3	2.1 ± 0.3	1.7 ± 0.3c
Urine output (mL)	47.5 ± 4.7	64.5 ± 6.7	71.0 ± 2.1	70.6 ± 10.4

Rats were gavaged daily with water, LDR or HDR (1 mL) and received an intraperitoneal injection of either saline or 5-FU on day 5.

^cP < 0.05,

^dP < 0.01 vs water + 5-FU;

^eP < 0.001 vs water + saline. All values are expressed as mean [% relative to bodyweight (× 10^-2)] ± SEM. LDR: Low-dose RE; HDR: High-dose RE; RE: Rhubarb extract.