Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disease associated with excessive reactive oxygen species, colonic injury, and increased cancer risk. Pluchea indica leaves exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, their effects on UC remain unknown. This study investigated the effects of P. indica leaves tea extract (PIE) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in rats. Rats were divided into five groups: control, PIE only (150 mg/kg), DSS, and DSS with PIE (50 or 150 mg/kg). Distilled water or PIE was administered orally for 14 days, with 3% DSS given from days 7 to 14. DSS rats showed elevated disease activity index, shortened colon length, increased spleen weight, and colonic injury. It also increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, decreased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and upregulated interleukin (IL) -1β and IL-6 mRNA expression. Pretreatment with PIE (50 or 150 mg/kg) alleviated colitis severity, decreased MDA levels, restored antioxidant enzyme activities, and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, although its effects on spleen weight reversal were not significant. PIE alone showed no significant differences from the control. These findings suggest that PIE exhibits protective effects against DSS-induced colitis and may serve as a potential alternative for UC prevention, although further studies are needed to support these findings.

Key words: Ulcerative colitis, Pluchea indica, dextran sulfate sodium, oxidative stress, inflammation