In this study, the effects of zingeron on acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis model were investigated.

For this purpose, 4 groups were studied with 7 rats in each group. Groups were; control (serum physiological - intrarectal), colitis (3% acetic acid - intrarectal), sulfasalazine (50 mg/kg) + colitis (3% acetic acid - intrarectal) and group-4; zingerone (20 mg/kg) + colitis (3% acetic acid - intrarectal).

According to the results, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased (P<0.01), but reduced glutathione (GSH) levels (P<0.05), glutathione peroxidase (GSH.Px) (P<0.05) and catalase (CAT) (P<0.05) activities decreased in colitis group compared to control group. However, MDA levels decreased (P<0.01), GSH levels (P<0.05) and GSH.Px activities (P<0.05) increased in the zingerone + colitis group when compared with colitis alone group. In sulfasalazine+colitis treated group; MDA levels were decreased (P<0.01), GSH levels (P<0.05) and GSH.Px (P<0.05) and CAT (P<0.01) activities increased when compared with colitis alone group.

Histopathological analysis showed intense epithelial and crypt loss in the colon of colitis rats with necrosis extending from mucosa to serosa and diffuse inflammatory cell infiltration. In protective groups for colitis with zingeron and sulfasalazine, necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were limited in the mucosa and submucosis to a lesser degree than in the colitis group. Eosinophil leukocyte infiltration (eosinophilic colitis) at different degrees were observed in all groups with the exception of control group.

As a result, it was observed that zingeron may have protective effects in acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis model.