HMOX1 and ulcerative colitis: To conclude, pretreatment with miconazole and/or sulfasalazine seems to have protective effects on AA-induced ulcerative colitis via activation of the Nrf2 pathway that improved the antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress and inflammation in UC, as demonstrated by the alleviation of colonic immunopathology, suppression of MDA and elevation in GSH, SOD and HO-1, as well as downregulation of the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP and upregulation of the IL-10 level.