In present study we investigated the effects of aqueous extract of aerial parts of tarragon in ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by acetic acid in Wistar rats. The experiment was conducted on 70 male Wistar rats that grouped into seven equal individuals. In this experimental study, ulcerative colitis was induced in the male Wistar rats by luminal instillation of acetic acid. Animals in the treatment groups received Mesalazine, Asacol or Tarragon and combination of Asacol and aqueous extract (orally or enema–daily) for 10 consecutive days. At the end, the rats were sacrificed and the levels of myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide, the concentration of TNF-α and IL-6 and histopathological damage were assessed. Findings indicated a significant increase in inflammatory mediators colon tissue levels and pathological damage of positive control group compared with the negative control group. Aqueous extract of Tarragon in combination with Asacol (intra-colonic) represented a higher capability in significantly decreasing inflammatory mediators levels and pathological damage in compared with the other treatment groups. Our observations indicate that Tarragon extract with anti-colitis property can be regarded as an appropriate candidate and a natural source of current medications.
