Objective: To study the therapeutic effect of Kangfuxin liquid on oxazolone-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats

and explore its mechanism of action. Method: SD rats were randomly divided into normal group

model group

mesalazine group

and Kangfuxin low dose

middle dose

and high dose groups. In the latter five groups

ulcerative colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of oxazolone. Rats in each group were intrarectally administered with drugs for 7 days

once a day. The disease activity index (DAI) was recorded every day and the rats were sacrificed at the 8th day to evaluate the colonmucosa damage index (CMDI) and the histopathological score (HS). The contents of interleukin (IL)-4 in serum and IL-13 in colonic mucosa were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Result: The DAI score

colon index

CMDI score

HS and IL-13 content in colonic mucosa in model group were significantly higher than those in normal group (P<0.05

P<0.01). The content of IL-4 in serum of model group was significantly lower than that in normal group (P<0.01). As compared with the model group

DAI score

CMDI score

HS and IL-13 content in colonic mucosa were significantly reduced (P<0.05

P<0.01) while the IL-4 content in serum was significantly increased in high dose Kangfuxin group (P< 0.01). Conclusion: Kangfuxin liquid may effectively relieve the symptoms of oxazolone-induced ulcerative colitis.