ABSTRACT
Objective:To study the preventive and therapeutic effects of Acalypha decoction on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced ulcerative colitis(UC) in rats.Methods: Totally 70 male SD rats were equally randomized into 7 groups, and UC was induced by intrarectal administration of TNBS (125 mg/kg in 50% ethanol). Six hours later the rats were given 3 different doses of Acapha decoction (2.5, 6.5, 9.5 g crude drug/kg body weight) daily for 10 d.Some rats were pretreated with Acalypha decoction (6.5 g crude drug/kg body weight) 3 d before the colitis was induced. Sulfasalazine was used as the standard drug for comparison. The efficacy of Acalypha decoction was assessed through the following parameters: bodyweight loss, diarrhea and bloody stool, macroscopic score,histological changes,and MPO activity in colon tissue. Results: Acalypha decoction treatment(9.5 g/kg, 6.5 g/kg) and prevention administration (6.5 g/kg) significantly inhibited the bodyweight loss and occurrence of diarrhea and rectal bleeding in the rats(P