evaluation of the protective effect of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of ulmus minor leaves on ulcerative colitis induced by acetic acid in rats

Background: ulcerative colitis (uc) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine that cannot be cured, but its symptoms can be managed.objectives: this study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of ulmus minor leaves on uc induced by acetic acid in rats. methods: rats were randomly divided into seven groups of five, and 3% acetic acid was used to induce colitis. to assess the protective effect of ulmus minor leaves, macroscopic, microscopic, and histological evaluations were performed on the different study groups. results: macroscopic examinations of both the hydroalcoholic and aqueous extract groups showed that the aqueous extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg provided the best protective effect on colon tissue. rats treated with hydroalcoholic extracts at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, as well as those treated with aqueous extract at 100 mg/kg, also showed favorable outcomes compared to the control group, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). furthermore, among the groups treated with hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts, the aqueous extract at 200 mg/kg demonstrated the most protective effects based on microscopic and histological evaluations of the colon.conclusions: the extracts of ulmus minor leaves demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in an animal model of colitis. further studies are required to evaluate their potential therapeutic benefits in patients with uc.