ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aesculus wilsonii Rehd.'s dried mature seeds are the source of escin, a significant triterpenoid saponin. Aesculus wilsonii Rehd was first mentioned in the Compendium of Materia Medica, according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. It possesses the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory as well as treating gastrointestinal disorders. Escin Ia is the primary active component of escin, exhibiting significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that escin exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities beneficial for the protection against gastrointestinal diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can be managed through pharmacological treatment
however, it features a high recurrence rate as well as propensity for complications. Therefore, reducing the rate of recurrence and improving the recurrence symptoms should be the primary focus of clinical prevention and treatment. Therefore, this research aims to study the effects of escin Ia on inflammation as well as oxidative stress in mice with chronic UC and to explain the molecular mechanisms underlying its potential to improve recurrent symptoms in UC mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mouse model of colitis produced via dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was developed for in vivo studies. A model of inflammation was created in vitro using caco-2 cells that were generated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Through the observation of colitis symptoms and histological morphology in mice, the protective effect of escin Ia against colitis was ascertained. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biochemical kits were then harnessed to measure the levels of oxidative stress markers as well as inflammatory factors. Additionally, to identify the possible target and molecular mechanism of escin Ia, qRT-PCR and western blotting, immunofluorescence, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics modeling were employed. RESULTS: We demonstrated that escin Ia remarkably improved the colitis symptoms as well as histological features of DSS-treated mice, lowered the levels of proinflammatory cytokines as well as oxidative stress biomarkers, and subsequently restored the permeability of the intestinal mucosa. Additionally, high expression of LOXL2 significantly reduced the protective effects of escin Ia in both inflamed mice and Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, escin Ia exhibited a strong binding affinity and notable stability with LOXL2. CONCLUSION: Escin Ia inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress through the LOXL2/MMP-9 pathway, thereby restoring intestinal mucosal barrier function. Improved recurrent symptoms in mice with enteritis.