ABSTRACT
AIM: To evaluate the effect of luteolin on ulcerative colitis in experimental animals. METHODS: The mouse model of acute colitis was induced by instillation of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) /alcohol. Luteolin (1, 10 and 50 mg?kg~(-1)) were orally administrated to mice for 3 days. Diarrheas, colon weight index, macroscopic damage in the colon were observed and the activity of MPO and the content of PGE_2 in colon were also examined. RESULTS: The diarrhea and the colon weight in- dex were reduced and the macroscopic damage in the inflammatory colon was effectively attenuated by luteolin. The elevated level of MPO and PGE2 were also significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Luteolin can effectively inhibit the inflammatory infiltration, bleeding and proliferation in experimental ulcerative colitis.