Document Type : Original Research Article
Authors
1
Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2
Tissue Engineering Research Group, Department of Anatomy and cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
4
Department of Microbiology & Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22038/ajp.2026.27699
Abstract
Objective: Cherry stems have strong anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of cherry stem extract in alleviating clinical symptom, colon histology, and inflammation and oxidative stress balance in this disease.
Materials and methods: Rats were divided into Control, Colitis, MSZ, and cherry stem groups. They received 2 ml of 4% acetic acid for colitis induction via intrarectal injection. They also received saline, MSZ 100 mg/kg/day, and cherry stem hydroalcoholic extract 300 mg/kg/day via oral gavage. Disease activity index (DAI) including diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and weight loss, was controlled daily after colitis induction. Colon macroscopic and microscopic damage, oxidative indicators including malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and total thiol) were measured. Expression of pro-inflammatory genes including Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and expression of TGF-β, pro-fibrotic gene, were evaluated.
Results: DAI, macroscopic ulcer, inflammation score, MDA and expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes were significantly increased in the colitis group compared to control, and significantly decreased in the treatment groups compared to the colitis group.
Conclusion: Cherry stem extract has beneficial effects on clinical symptoms, and reduced inflammation and fibrosis in colon tissue through modulation of oxidant-antioxidant, pro-inflammatory, and pro-fibrotic factors. More studies are needed to clarify the combination of cherry stem and MSZ in treatment of UC.
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