Studies have shown that metformin can alleviate DSS-induced colitis, and one of its mechanisms is that it inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, thereby alleviating intestinal inflammation and further indicating that TNF-α has a close association with ulcerative colitis and inhibiting the production or activity of TNF-α may become a potential strategy for treating UC (47). This evidence concerns the gene TNF and colitis.