Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease which causes irritation, inflammation, and ulcers in the mucosa of large intestine. The present study aimed to evaluate anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of intermittent fasting (IF) against UC in rats. Thirty- five mature rats weighing 225±5 g B.Wt. and 8 weeks age were used. Rats were distributed into 5 equal groups; Group1: negative control, group 2: positive control with UC and groups 3, 4 and 5: with UC and were fasted for 12, 16 and 20 hr, respectively. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG %), and feed efficiency ratio (FER) were calculated. Rats were then anesthetized and blood samples were collected for determination of activities of serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzymes. Serum proinflammatory cytokines IL1 β, IL6, and IL8 and total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were measured. Reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured in liver homogenate. Histopathology of large intestine was also performed. Results revealed that IF of rats with UC decreased FI, BWG% and FER, cytokines IL1 β, IL6 and IL8, TC and TG and increased serum concentrations of GPx SOD and CAT, as compared to the positive control (+ve) group. Liver tissue GSH was increased, but MDA and LDH were decreased. Histopathological examination of colons showed that IF ameliorated UC and inflammation. It could be concluded that IF induces recovery from UC due to its good anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties via lowering oxidative stress and inflammation

Ulcerative colitis; Intermittent fasting; Biochemical analysis, Anti-oxidant, Cytokines; Colon histopathology