A comparative study of the therapeutic effect of zinc oxide nanoparticle and aloe vera extract on an induced ulcerative colitis in rats

This study aims to detect the therapeutic effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles, and to compare it with the therapeutic effect of aloe vera extract alone, in a laboratory rat model of ulcerative colitis induced using acetic acid. The rats were divided into five groups: a negative control group, a positive control group (untreated), a zinc oxide nanoparticle-treated group, and a group treated with aloe vera extract.Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by measuring a set of immunological and physiological parameters, including levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), nitric oxide (NO), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The results showed that treatment with zinc oxide nanoparticles led to a significant improvement in the studied values compared to the other groups, with higher levels of interleukin-10 and higher antioxidant capacity, along with a significant decrease in nitric oxide levels, indicating a high efficacy in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. The aloe vera extract group also showed significant improvement compared to the positive control group, but it was less effective than the zinc oxide nanoparticles group. These results suggest that zinc oxide nanoparticles may be a promising and effective option for alleviating the severity of ulcerative colitis, more effective than treatment with aloe vera extract alone.