Fig. 6

A Representative microscopic pictures of H&E-stained sections of colorectal tissues from control, dimethylhydrazine (DMH), DMH + artemisinin (DMH + ART), and DMH + artemisinin-loaded polylactic acid nanoparticles (DMH + ART-PLA NPs) groups showing the histological features of the mucosa lined by an epithelium rich in goblet cells (1), the submucosa (2), and the muscularis (3). Colorectal tissue of DMH group reveals deep mucosal necrosis (black arrow) reaching muscularis mucosa, many distorted crypts with moderate to severe dysplasia (black arrowheads), and submucosal edema (*) with leukocytic cell infiltration (dashed black arrow). Colorectal tissue of DMH + ART group shows superficial mucosal necrosis (black arrow), fewer distorted crypts with moderate dysplasia (black arrowheads), and submucosal edema (*). Colorectal tissue of DMH + ART-PLA NPs group displays superficial mucosal necrosis (black arrow), dilated crypts (black arrowheads), and submucosal edema (*). Magnifications are × 100; bar = 100 µm. B Bar chart representing changes in total histological scores of colorectal tissue among various experimental groups. All the values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 10). # means significant as compared to control groups p < 0.05. ! means significant as compared to control groups and DMH group p < 0.05. $ means significant as compared to other groups p < 0.05