Arnica montana L. and exercise: a promising combination for managing a mouse model of ulcerative colitis

Asgharzadeh, Fereshteh; Attarian, Mahsa; Nazari, Seyedeh Elnaz; Eskandari, Moein; Khorami, Azar; Naimi, Hamideh; Mansoori, Saeide; Aminian, Akram; Kharazmi, Khatereh; Saroughi, Mohammad; Khazaei, Majid

doi:10.22038/ajp.2026.28179

Arnica montana L. and exercise: a promising combination for managing a mouse model of ulcerative colitis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

fereshteh asgharzadeh ¹

Mahsa Attarian ²

Seyedeh Elnaz Nazari ¹

Moein Eskandari ²

Azar Khorami ³

Hamideh Naimi ²

Saeide Mansoori ⁴

Akram Aminian ⁵

Khatereh Kharazmi ¹

Mohammad Saroughi ¹

Majid Khazaei ⁶

¹ Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

² Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

³ Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

⁴ Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

⁵ Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

⁶ Department of Physiology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

10.22038/ajp.2026.28179

Abstract

Objective: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a lifelong condition that causes inflammation and ulcers inside the colon. We investigated the antioxidant and fibrinolytic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Arnica montana L. flowers(Ar) in a mouse colitis model when combined with exercise.
Materials and methods: Animals were segregated into the following groups: Exercise (Ex), dextran sulfate sodium for induction of colitis (DSS), Ex+DSS, and Ar+Ex+DSS (n = 6 in each group). All groups, except the DSS group, underwent training with a forced swimming test 6 weeks before and during the experiment. Body weight and disease activity indicators (DAI) were assessed during colitis induction and treatment. Then, the colon tissue of sacrificed mice was examined for clinical symptoms and histological changes. Additionally, homogenized colon tissue was evaluated for oxidant and antioxidant markers.
Results: The Ar+Ex+DSS group exhibited improvements in DAI. Administration of Ar along with exercise also led to improvements in histological changes in colitis tissues. Furthermore, an increase in antioxidants and a decrease in oxidants were observed in the Ar+Ex+DSS group. Trichrome staining revealed a decrease in collagen content in the Ar+Ex+DSS group.
Conclusion: Although exercise has shown potential to improve colitis, the concomitant administration of Ar and exercise led to a more significant enhancement in clinical and histological symptoms, as well as oxidative stress markers. However, compared to the cohort receiving exercise alone, these improvements did not reach statistical significance.

Keywords

Colitis

Physical Activity

Exercise

Inflammation

Arnica montana L

Subjects