BackgroundUlcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Natural products may offer protective effects, though their mechanisms remain unclear. Hawthorn fruit ( Crataegus monogyna ) is known for its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties, providing a rationale to explore its potential against UC ObjectiveTo evaluate the protective effects and mechanisms of Crataegus monogyna fruit extract (CMFE) in acetic acid‐induced UC in rats. MethodsSix groups of Wistar rats were used: control, acetic acid (AA), AA + CMFE (100, 200, 400 mg/kg, p.o.), and AA + sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg, p.o.). Treatments lasted 10 days, followed by AA rectal infusion (300 mg/kg). Colonic damage was assessed macroscopically and histologically. Oxidative stress markers (MDA, thiols, SOD, CAT, GPx) were measured in colon homogenates, while CRP, ALP, iron, and calcium levels were determined in plasma. ResultsCMFE pretreatment significantly reduced macroscopic and microscopic damage, protecting the colonic mucosa from AA‐induced lesions. AA increased MDA and decreased SH‐group as well as antioxidant enzyme activities, whereas CMFE restored these parameters. CMFE also normalized CRP, ALP, iron, and calcium levels, counteracting AA‐induced inflammatory and metabolic disturbances. ConclusionCMFE shows strong protective effects against AA‐induced colitis by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings support its potential use in green medicine as a natural therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA) are increasingly associated with metabolic disorders, including metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MASLD). This preclinical study investigates the effect of BPA on liver function and lipid metabolism in Wistar rats and evaluated the protective potential of Myrtus communis essential oil (EOMC) and vitamin E (Vit E). MASLD was induced in Wistar rats by oral administration of BPA (100 mg/kg/day) for 30 days. Rats were co‐treated with EOMC at doses of 50,100, or 200 mg/kg body weight, or Vit E at 100 mg/kg. Liver and kidney function markers, lipid profiles, oxidative stress parameters, and organ histology were assessed. BPA exposure significantly increased plasma liver enzymes (AST: 195,76 ± 4,47 U/L, ALT: 91,05 ± 0,58 U/L) and lipid levels (triglycerides: 1,30 ± 0,13 g/L) compared to controls, and elevated oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA). Co‐treatment with EOMC improved these parameters in a dose‐dependent manner. At 200 mg/kg, EOMC reduced plasma triglycerides 0,62 ± 0,09 g/L, corresponding to an approximate 52% decrease compared to the BPA‐only group, along with an approximately 84% reduction in hepatic MDA levels. Liver histology confirmed marked attenuation of steatosis and hepatocellular damage. Vitamin E showed similar protective effects, though slightly less pronounced. Both EOMC and Vit E demonstrated potential in mitigating against BPA‐induced MASLD. These findings indicate that EOMC may have a protective effect against fatty liver changes in this experimental model, but further studies are needed to confirm its relevance in humans.

Background: Arbutus and hawthorn fruits are commonly utilized in traditional medicine to address various gastrointestinal ( GI ) ailments. Our primary aim was to individually assess the effects of aqueous extracts from Arbutus unedo ( AUAE ) and Crataegus monogyna ( CMAE ) fruits on GI motility, spontaneous jejunal smooth muscle contractility, and hyperglycemia management. Methods: Wistar rats were administered loperamide ( LOP , 3 mg/kg, b.w.) along with AUAE or CMAE (at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg, b.w.) or yohimbine ( YOH , 2 mg/kg, b.w.). GI transit was evaluated using the charcoal meal test. The impact of both extracts on jejunal secretion and contraction was assessed using the Ussing chamber technique and the isometric transducer. The bioactive constituents of AUAE and CMAE were analyzed via liquid chromatography‐high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry ( LC ‐ HRESIMS ). Results: AUAE and CMAE comprise bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and flavonols, capable of eliciting various intended physiological effects. Both extracts demonstrated a significant and dose‐dependent increase in GI transit (77.33%–89.83% and 80.31%–85.54%, respectively) compared to the delayed peristalsis induced by LOP (42.77%) and the accelerated effect of YOH (90.09%). Both extracts induced an increase in the amplitude of spontaneous jejunal contraction with an EC ₅₀ of 90.47 and 22.98 μg/ mL , respectively. Conversely, the two extracts did not impact the electrogenic transport of intestinal fluid when compared to the action produced by forskolin ( FSK , 10 μM ). Additionally, both extracts significantly reduced glucose levels in hyperglycemic rats compared to control values. Conclusion: These findings hold promise for the development of novel preventive and pharmacological treatment strategies for GI disorders and diabetes management.

Dietary supplementation of Helix aspersa Müller with nettle ( Urtica dioica L.) or carob ( Ceratonia siliqua L.) has been hypothesized to enhance the biochemical composition and gastroprotective properties of the secreted mucus through enrichment of its polyphenolic, protein, and glycoprotein content. This study presents a comprehensive experimental evaluation of diet‐enriched snail mucus preparations across three supplementation levels (10%, 20%, and 30%) in an ethanol‐induced rat gastric ulcer model, encompassing phytochemical characterization, in vitro antioxidant assessment, and in vivo biochemical, systemic, and histopathological profiling. A standard snail mucus control group (SSSD) was included to isolate the specific contribution of dietary plant enrichment from the intrinsic properties of snail mucus itself. Analysis revealed that dietary supplementation significantly increased the yield of lyophilised snail mucus as well as its total phenolic, flavonoid, protein, and sugar contents in a dose‐dependent manner, with nettle exerting markedly superior effects than carob at all tested doses, attributable to its 33‐fold higher phenolic content and 15.5‐fold higher flavonoid content relative to carob extract. In vivo, pretreatment with enriched mucus preparations significantly attenuated ethanol‐induced gastric injury across all evaluated parameters. The 30% nettle‐enriched group (SSUD30%) demonstrated the strongest gastroprotective effect, normalizing gastric pH (3.75 ± 0.074), reducing gastric juice volume (1.59 ± 0.071 mL/100 g), restoring antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx) to near‐control values, reducing lipid peroxidation markers (MDA: 0.35 nmol/mg protein), and attenuating systemic inflammatory biomarkers including CRP, hepatic enzymes, and lipid profile alterations. Histopathological semi‐quantitative scoring confirmed a histological damage score reduction from 11 (ethanol group) to 2 in the SSUD30% group, corresponding to 81.82% protection, significantly exceeding that of famotidine (36.3%). These findings support a comprehensive gastroprotective model based on three complementary and interdependent mechanisms: reinforcement of the physical mucus barrier through increased viscosity and glycoprotein content, enhancement of endogenous antioxidant defenses through restoration of SOD, CAT, and GPx activities via the Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway, and attenuation of systemic inflammatory cascades through inhibition of NF‐κB‐mediated signaling by flavonoids and polyphenols incorporated into the enriched mucus. Overall, diet‐enriched snail mucus, particularly SSUD30%, should be conceptualized not merely as a topical mucoprotective agent, but as a multi‐target bioactive preparation whose efficacy depends on the complementary contribution of physical barrier reinforcement, antioxidant restoration, and anti‐inflammatory modulation. Future studies should prioritize identification of the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed effects, assessment of bioavailability under gastrointestinal conditions, and validation of therapeutic potential in human clinical settings.