Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is subcategorized into two major diseases, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). The incidence of UC is rising steadily due to the increased number of people with an unbalanced diet.

It has been reported that UC is associated with an increased level of various inflammatory markers such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). It is also known that untreated chronic inflammation in the colon leads to the development of colitis-associated cancer. Several signaling pathways have been implicated in the transformation of UC to colitis-associated cancer. In addition, oxidative stress plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of UC. Hence, many natural products act as antioxidants and could be used as therapeutics in UC.

In this Special Issue, new treatment options and novel molecules of natural products origin will be discussed in the prevention and treatment of UC. Original research and review articles are welcome.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Herbal extracts as novel therapeutics for ulcerative colitis
• Flavonoids as therapeutic agents for ulcerative colitis
• Alkaloids as therapeutic agents for ulcerative colitis
• Poly-herbal formulations and herbal decoction as therapeutics for ulcerative colitis