Zonarol suppresses DSS-induced UC in Slc:ICR mic.

A) The chemical structure of zonarol, a sesquiterpene para-hydroquinone. B) The DAI scores were dramatically increased in DSS positive control mice compared with those in the other groups of mice treated with zonarol at 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg or 5-ASA 50 mg/kg from day 9 to 15. We observed no apparent difference in the DAI between the mice treated with zonarol and 5-ASA. C) There were no remarkable differences in the food and drinking water intake between the different groups of mice throughout the experimental period (n = 6 mice per group). However, the water intake in the DSS groups tended to be gradually and slightly decreased after DSS administration. D) On day 15 post-DSS administration (n = 6 mice per group), the spleen/BW ratio in the DSS control group was significantly elevated, whereas that in the zonarol 20 mg/kg and 5-ASA groups was not. Correspondingly, the colon length was significantly shortened in the DSS mice, compared with the normal control mice on day 15 in the present UC model (n = 6 mice per group), whereas zonarol at 20 mg/kg and 5-ASA treatment both significantly suppressed the colon shortening. The values are the means ± SE. *P<0.05, **P<0.001, ***P<0.0001.