A Study on the Mechanism of Curcumin in Improving Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a non-selective and chronic pro-inflammatory intestines disease with an unknown cause and an incidence that is rising year by year. Current treatments, such as glucocorticoids, often face challenges including insufficient efficacy, poor treatment outcomes, and adverse reactions. Therefore, the development of safe and effective new therapies is urgently needed. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol extracted from turmeric, possesses potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, demonstrating strong potential for the treatment of UC. This study investigates the mechanisms by which curcumin exerts its effects on UC, analyzes the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin combined with fecal microbiota transplantation, and examines and analyzes related signaling pathways, protein expression, and intestinal immunity. The study found that curcumin improves physiological indicators such as survival rate and body weight in UC-affected mice and alleviates pathological damage to intestinal tissue. It produces therapeutic benefits by suppressing the aberrant activation of the ERK1/2-mTOR signal cascade, activating tissue autophagy, and suppressing apoptosis in intestinal tissues. Curcumin can also regulate the abundance of pro-inflammatory factors, repaired the intestinal barrier integrity, and modulate the expression of mesenteric lymph nodes to maintain the immune balance of the intestinal mucosa. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects were more pronounced in the high-concentration curcumin group and the treatment group receiving curcumin combined with fecal microbiota transplantation. This study elucidated the core mechanisms of curcumin intervention in UC, confirmed its synergistic effects when combined with fecal microbiota transplantation, and laid a theoretical foundation for novel treatment approaches for UC while providing new insights.