Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus polysaccharide (SCFP) on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) induced gastrointestinal mucositis and explore the underlying mechanism. Method: 5-FU was used to establish models and the mice were randomly divided into normal group

control group

low-dose polysaccharide (LDP) group

middle-dose polysaccharide (MDP) group and high-dose polysaccharide (HDP) group (5

10

and 20 mg·kg-1 respectively). Body weight and scoring for diarrhoea index were recorded. After the mice were sacrificed

small intestinal villous height and crypt depth were measured for orphological evaluation; the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)

interleukin-6 (IL-6)

interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the intestinal tissues were determined by ELISA. Result: On day 4 of treatment

as compared with the control group

the body weight loss in MDP group and HDP group was inhabited significantly (P<0.01); diarrhoea scores of mice in MDP group and HDP group were significantly decreased (P<0.05

P<0.01). SCFP significantly inhibited the shortening of villus heights

enlarging of crypts depths and redecreasing of villus heights/crypts depths ratio in small intestine induced by 5-Fu (P<0.01). The levels of TNF-α

IL-1β

and IL-6 in mice treated with SCFP were significantly decreased in comparison with the normal group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Our results suggest that SCFP could improve the symptoms of gastrointestinal mucositis induced by 5-FU

and the mechanism may beassociated with inhibiting the levels of TNF-α

IL-6 and IL-1β.