A Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Natural and Synthetic NF-κB Inhibitors on the Treatment of Experimentally Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats

Background and Purpose: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a long-term, inflammatory condition characterized by episodes of relapse and remission, affecting millions of people worldwide. The Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) serves as a key factor and biomarker in the inflammatory context, significantly influencing the course of mucosal inflammation in UC. This work aims to explore the relative potency and compare the efficacy of curcumin and resveratrol (natural NF-κB inhibitors) to mesalazine, a standard treatment for ulcerative colitis (synthetic inhibitor of NF-κB), in a rat model of acetic acid-induced colitis. Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, with eight animals in each group. Group I was the standard control group, and the remaining 32 rats received a rectal injection of 2 mL of 4% acetic acid solution to induce UC. They were then randomly subdivided into 4 groups: Group IIA (untreated ulcerative colitis group), Group IIB (mesalazine-treated ulcerative colitis group), Group IIC (resveratrol-treated ulcerative colitis group), and Group IID (curcumin-treated ulcerative colitis group). Oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory markers were assessed one week after UC induction or treatments. Results: This study showed that the treatment with natural NF-kB inhibitors, namely curcumin and resveratrol, was superior to the conventional mesalazine therapy in lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 17 (IL-17), and NF-kB in the colonic tissue. Conclusion: Natural NF-kB inhibitors, namely curcumin and resveratrol, are superior to the conventional mesalazine therapy in the treatment of UC. Major Findings: Curcumin was superior to resveratrol in reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory markers associated with the disease. Histological examination of the colonic tissue demonstrated almost normal mucosa architecture with no inflammation or ulceration in the curcumin-treated group.