Anti-inflammatory efficacy of diosgenin in an oxazolone-induced model of ulcerative colitis in mice via suppression of Th2 pathways and pSTAT3 expression: A prospective study.

ObjectiveThis prospective study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of Diosgenin in mitigating Oxazolone-induced ulcerative colitis in male BALB/c mice.MethodMice aged 10-11 weeks were randomized into five groups and subjected to a nine-day protocol involving skin sensitization and intra-rectal Oxazolone challenge. Diosgenin was administered orally at 3 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg twice daily, with Tofacitinib at 60 mg/kg as a reference control. Disease severity was assessed via clinical activity scores, which include tested parameters.ResultsOxazolone-induced acute colitis was characterized by significant weight loss, increased diarrhoea scores, and an >8-fold increase in rectal bleeding scores compared with vehicle-treated mice, confirming successful disease induction (p < 0.05). Diosgenin-treated mice showed significant recovery. Disease Activity Index (DAI) scores improved by 40% in the 3 mg/kg Diosgenin group, 45% in the 30 mg/kg Diosgenin group, and 67% in the Tofacitinib-treated group by Day 2. Stool consistency improved by 52%, 33%, and 49% on Day 1, and by 33%, 61%, and 64% on Day 2 in the 3 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg Diosgenin groups, and the 60 mg/kg Tofacitinib groups respectively. Molecular analysis revealed a dose-dependent suppression of Th2 cytokines: IL-4 levels were reduced by 71%, 90%, and 86%, and IL-13 levels by 75%, 79%, and 90% in the Diosgenin 3mg/kg and 30 mg/kg groups, and Tofacitinib 60 mg/kg group respectively. Diosgenin markedly suppressed colonic pSTAT3 expression, with reductions of 92% and 99%, in the Diosgenin 3mg/kg and 30 mg/kg groups and >90% in the Tofacitinib 60 mg/kg group.ConclusionThese findings suggest Diosgenin offers substantial protection against Oxazolone-induced colitis via cytokine modulation and pSTAT3 inhibition, highlighting its potential as a natural anti-inflammatory agent for colitis management.