Gallic acid, a naturally occurring polyphenol found in various plants, has been investigated for its potential therapeutic effects in colitis, primarily in preclinical research. Several animal studies have demonstrated that gallic acid can ameliorate symptoms of colitis induced by agents like dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice. The mechanisms proposed include its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, which help reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine levels in the colon. For instance, studies published in journals such as Inflammation (2015) and Food & Function (2019) showed that gallic acid supplementation reduced colon tissue damage, lowered levels of pro-inflammatory markers (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6), and improved histological outcomes in colitis models.

Despite these positive findings in animal models, there is currently a lack of robust clinical trials evaluating gallic acid's efficacy and safety in human patients with colitis. Its use in traditional medicine for colitis is not well documented either; most references pertain to its general health benefits or use in other inflammatory conditions. Therefore, while there is some scientific support from preclinical studies, the evidence is limited and not yet sufficient to recommend gallic acid as a validated treatment for colitis in humans.