Elucidating The Alleviative Properties of Xylopia Aethiopica Against Dss-Induced Ulcerative Colitis In Mice Model.

<ns4:p> Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum. Currently, UC remains a complex condition with no available treatment that effectively modulates both inflammatory immune response and oxidative stress simultaneously, necessitating the continuous search for more potent pharmacological agents. The methanolic extract of <ns4:italic>Xylopia aethiopica</ns4:italic> pod contains several bioactive compounds reported to exhibit various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods Twenty-five male Swiss albino mice were randomly divided into five equal groups: (1) normal control group (no treatment), (2) dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced control group (vehicle treated with corn oil), (3) DSS-induced group treated with <ns4:italic>Xylopia aethiopica</ns4:italic> (XA) at 200 mg/kg, (4) DSS-induced group treated with XA at 400 mg/kg, and (5) DSS-induced group treated with sulfasalazine at 400 mg/kg (reference drug). Disease activity index (DAI) was assessed. At the end of the experiment, colon samples were collected for biochemical assays and immunohistochemical staining. Results The results revealed that XA significantly mitigated the progression of UC, as evidenced by reduced DAI, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA), and inflammatory markers (nitrite, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, arginase, myeloperoxidase). XA also significantly increased colonic antioxidant levels (reduced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase) and enhanced acetylcholinesterase activity. Conclusions XA holds potential as an alternative therapeutic agent for UC, offering antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mucosal protective effects. </ns4:p>