Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disorder of the large intestine. Fructus mume (FM), a natural food with nutritive and pharmaceutical value, has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against UC. In this study, we investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of FM against UC. We induced UC in rats with 4% (v/v)
acetic acid (AA), orally administered 0.7 or 0.325 g/kg FM and 0.3 g/kg
sulfasalazine (SASP) for 7 days, and explored the responses the drugs elicited in the rats. We assessed the general conditions of the rats by the disease active index. We evaluated colon tissue damage macroscopically and by
Hematoxylin &
Eosin,
Alcian Blue-
periodic acid-Schiff, and Masson's staining, and explored the potential mechanisms of FM on
inflammation, oxidative stress, and
neuropeptides by measuring TNF-α,
IL-6,
IL-8,
IL-10, MMP9, CXCR-1, SOD, GSH-px, MDA, ROS,
SIRT3, SP, VIP,
ghrelin, and
5-HT. FM treatment significantly attenuated colon damage and submucosal
fibrosis compared with the model. It lowered serum proinflammatory TNF-α,
IL-8, and colonic MMP9 and CXCR-1, and raised serum anti-inflammatory
IL-10 levels. FM upregulated the
antioxidant enzymes SOD, GSH-px, and SITR3
protein but inhibited ROS and MDA production. It downregulated colonic SP, VIP,
ghrelin, and
5-HT. The beneficial effects of FM might be dose dependent. Around 0.7 g/kg FM and SASP displayed similar efficacy for treating AA-induced
colitis in rats. Our results provide empirical evidence that FM protects against AA-induced UC in rats via anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant mechanisms, and regulates
neuropeptides; thus, FM may be a promising, safe, and efficacious alternative
therapy for UC, if its efficacy can be confirmed in human trials.