Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of haematococcus carbon dots in ulcerative colitis: A nanoparticle-based approach

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, non-specific inflammatory disease affecting the colon and rectum, classified as a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Haematococcus carbon dots (HP-CDs) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. HP-CDs were synthesized from Haematococcus pluvialis (HP) using a hydrothermal method involving Rhodococcus amphitrite. The effects of HP-CDs on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice were evaluated through histological and pathological analyses. Results demonstrated that HP-CDs significantly alleviated colitis, reducing body weight loss, Disease Activity Index (DAI) scores, and colonic atrophy. Moreover, HP-CDs suppressed MPO activity and decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, in colonic tissues. These findings indicate that HP-CDs have potential as a novel therapeutic agent for UC.