Objective: To compare the effects of Sishen pills and Gegen Qinlian tablets in treating acute or chronic colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice. Method: In the acute or chronic colitis experiment

C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: the normal group

the DSS acute or chronic model group

the Sishen pills group (2.25 g · kg-1) or Gegen Qinlian tablets group (6.5 g · kg-1). The acute colitis model was established by free drinking of 4%DSS for five days

while the chronic colitis model was established by circulating drinking of 3%DSS (1-5

8-12

15-19 d and 22-26 d). The acute model was orally given drugs on the second day after drinking DSS for 8 d

while the chronic model was given drugs after the second circulating drinking for 16 d. The disease activity index (DAI) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in colonic tissues were respectively determined

and the changes in colonic tissue were detected by HE staining. Result: Compared with the normal group

both acute colitis and chronic colitis groups showed significant higher DAI and MPO and notable inflammatory damages in colonic tissues (P<0.05

P<0.01). In the acute DSS model

Gegen Qinlian tablets had an effect on reducing DAI since the 5th day

while Sishen pills significantly reduced DAI since the 7th day (P<0.05)

both can significantly relieve inflammatory damages in colonic tissues (P<0.01

P<0.05) and reduce MPO activity in colonic tissues (P<0.05

P<0.01). In the chronic DSS model

Sishen pills significantly reduced DAI since the 18th and 24th day (P<0.05) and relieve inflammatory damages in colonic tissues (P<0.05)

while Gegen Qinlian tablets had no significant change in all indexes of rats with chronic colitis. Conclusion: Sishen pills shows a remarkable effect in ameliorating acute colitis and chronic colitis induced by DSS

while Gegen Qinlian tablets can only ameliorate acute colitis.