Balsalazide is a prodrug form of 5-aminosalicylic acid .1 It is cleaved by bacterial azoreductases in the intestinal lumen to release 5-ASA. Balsalazide (600 mg/kg per day) decreases IL-2 levels and increases IL-6 levels in the serum and colonic mucosa membrane, as well as decreases micro- and macroscopic colonic damage, in a rat model of colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB).2 Formulations containing balsalazide have been used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
1.Tursi, A.Balsalazide in treating colonic diseasesExpert Opin. Drug Metab. Toxicol.5(12)1555-1563(2009) 2.Lu, Y.-X., and Chen, X.-M.Effects of balsalazide on experimental colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene in ratsZhongguo Xinyao Yu Linchuang Zazhi26(12)901-904(2007)