Objective: To observe the effect of Wumei pill and its subdivisions on Notch signal pathway in colonic epithelial cells of ulcerative colitis(UC) rats

and explore the main therapy and drug of traditional Chinese medicine. Method: The ulcerative colitis model was established by giving 2

4

6-three nitro toluene sulfonate(TNBS)/ethanol enemas. Eighty rats were randomly divided into 8 groups : blank group(physiological saline 10 mL·kg-1)

model group ( physiological saline 10 mL·kg-1)

Wumei pill group(53.2 g·kg-1)

cold and heat application group(36.0 g·kg-1)

heat group(21.32 g·kg-1)

cold group(14.68 g·kg-1)

tonic group(6.68 g·kg-1)and astringent group(10.68 g·kg-1). After 8 hours

all the groups were given Wumei pill or its subdivisions once a day. After 10 days

the colon tissue was collected for pathology examination and the Notch-1

Hes-1

Math-1 mRNA expressions of colonic epithelial cells of rats were tested by Real-time quantitative PCR detecting system(Q-PCR) method. Result: Compared with blank group

Notch-1

Hes-1 mRNA expression was significantly enhanced while Math-1 mRNA was decreased in model group rats(P<0.05). Notch-1

Hes-1 mRNA expression was significantly decreased while Math-1 mRNA was enhanced in Wumei pill group and cold and heat application group(P<0.05). Conclusion: The cold and heat application group play an important role in regulating the Notch signal pathway in Wumei pill

and the therapy of cold and heat is the main method for treatment of ulcerative colitis.