After usage of crocins, the results confirm that crocins could improve colitis and colitis-related colon carcinogenesis induced chemically in animal by reducing mRNA expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducible inflammatory enzymes including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, INF-γ, NF-κB, iNOS and COX-2 synthase in the colorectal mucosa and increasing in the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) mRNA expression of the mice that received DSS (93). Here, IL6 is linked to colitis.