Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Sumatra Wild Turmeric (Curcuma sumatrana: Zingiberaceae) Rhizome in Preventing Ulcerative Colitis: In Vivo and In Silico Study

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the colon with increasing prevalence annually in Asia, including Indonesia. Current treatments often have significant side effects, highlighting the urgent need for alternative therapies with fewer adverse effects. Curcuma sumatrana, an endemic plant of Sumatra, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aims to investigate the effects of ethanolic extract of C. sumatrana in preventing ulcerative colitis using both in vivo and in silico approaches. Adult male mice (n = 30) were randomly assigned into six groups over 28 days: P1 with no treatment (control group), P2 with 500 ppm piroxicam (UC-inductor), P3 with 500 ppm piroxicam plus 100 mg/kg bw sulfasalazine (UC commercial drug), P4 with 500 ppm piroxicam plus 50 mg/kg bw C. sumatrana extract, P5 with 500 ppm piroxicam plus 100 mg/kg bw C. sumatrana extract, and P6 with 500 ppm piroxicam plus 300 mg/kg bw C. sumatrana extract. In silico studies included bioavailability analysis, toxicity prediction, bioactivity prediction, protein-protein interaction analysis, and molecular docking. The results showed that C. sumatrana extract could prevent colon shortening, maintain colon histology, and reduce leukocyte levels in piroxicam-induced UC mice. However, further toxicity studies of the ethanol extract of C. sumatrana rhizome through in vivo approaches are needed.