Molecular mechanisms involved in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by Pulsatilla decoction / 中国应用生理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate molecular mechanisms underlying in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by Pulsatilla decoction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar male rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, model + positive control group (mesalazine), traditional Chinese medicine treatment group, in addition, the Chinese medical treatment group was divided into middle and high dose group ( n = 8). Intragastric administration was used in the positive control group and traditional Chinese medicine treatment group. The expression of Smad7 and p-Smad3 in the colons were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, positive medicine and traditional Chinese medicine group, especially high-dose group, could effectively inhibit the expression of Smad7, while enhancing the p-Smad3 expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The activation of TGF-beta1/Smad3 signaling pathway may be the molecular mechanism underlying in the anti-inflammatory effect of inflammatory bowel disease by Pulsatilla decoction.</p>