TNF and ulcerative colitis: Crocin recovered mucosal layer destruction, submucosal edema, extensive leukocyte infiltration and crypt destruction in acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis in rats.20 Moreover, acrylamide-induced histopathological changes including villous shortening and degeneration, surface epithelium and crypt degeneration in the small and large intestines were recovered by crocin.33 The present study showed restoration effects of crocin on the increased levels of MDA, TNF-α and caspase-3 and the decreased activity of SOD in small intestine.