AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of action of NCB-02,a standardized Curcumin preparation,against 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB)-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.METHODS:Ulcerative colitis was induced in male rats by sensitizing with topical application of DNCB in acetone for 14 d and intra-colonol challenge with DNCB on day 15.A separate group of animals with vehicle treatment in similar fashion served as control group.Colitis rats were divided into different groups and treated with NCB-02 at doses of 25,50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt p.o.for 10 d.Sulfasalazine at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.wt for 10 d served as a reference group.On day 10 after respective assigned treatment,all the animals were euthanized and the length of the colon,weight of entire colon and distal 8 cm of the colon were recorded.The distal part of the colon was immediately observed under a stereomicroscope and the degree of damage was scored.Further distal 8 cm of the colon was subject to the determination of colonic myeloperoxidase(MPO),lipid peroxidation(LPO)and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)activities.A small piece of the sample from distal colon of each animal was fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin wax and sectioned for immunohistochemical examination of NFκ-B and iNOS expression.RESULTS:NCB-02 showed a dose dependent protection against DNCB-induced alteration in colon length and weight.NCB-02 treatment also showed a dose dependent protection against the elevated levels of MPO,LPO and ALP,induced by DNCB.NCB-02 demonstrated a significant effect at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.wt.,which was almost equipotent to 100 mg/kg b.wt.of sulfasalazine.Treatment with sulfasalazine and curcumin at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.wt.inhibited the DNCB-induced overexpression of NFκ-B and iNOS in the colon.CONCLUSION:Curcumin treatment ameliorates colonic damage in DNCB-induced colitic rats,an effect associated with an improvement in intestinal oxidative stress and downregulation of colonic NFκ-B and iNOS expression.