Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis with Myrrh Essential Oil Microemulsion

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory colon disease that is a major public health problem. The long-term administration of traditional drugs is likely to trigger adverse reactions. The myrrh essential oil (MEO) exhibits promising therapeutic efficacy against ulcerative colitis. However, due to the inherent instability and volatility of MEO, it was formulated into myrrh essential oil microemulsion (MM) with the aim of enhancing its stability. This study explored the optimal formulation for synthesizing MM, and a series of relevant indices were employed to meticulously investigate its stability characteristics. In animal experiments, a UC mouse model was established with the assistance of Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS). The therapeutic efficacy was comprehensively evaluated by recording Disease Activity Index (DAI) scores, detecting the levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and observing the morphological features of mouse colonic tissues through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques. The results confirmed that both MEO and MM are effective in treating ulcerative colitis.