Chinese research into severe ulcerative colitis has increased in quantity and complexity

Luo, Cheng-Xin; Wen, Zhong-Hui; Zhen, Yu; Wang, Zhu-Jun; Mu, Jing-Xi; Zhu, Min; Ouyang, Qin; Zhang, Hu

Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the most developed complementary and alternative medicine approaches used in the treatment of IBD [30] . Extracts or decoctions of herbs are administrated by oral intake or retention enema combined with 5-aminosalicylic acid or corticosteroid therapy as treatment for severe or refractory UC. The underlying mechanisms involve anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and alteration of gut microbiota [30, 31] . In our study, more than half of the analytical studies and clinical trials related to SUC focused on Traditional Chinese Medicine, with most reporting an efficacy rate greater than 90%. The most commonly used formulation was found to be a modified Luo CX et al . Chinese research into severe ulcerative colitis Pulsatilla decoction, which has been proven to attenuate experimental colitis in mice by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-κB signal pathway, reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and repairing the colonic epithelial barrier [32] . A review of Chinese articles regarding IBD therapy also reported a higher proportion of articles (60.9%) that focus on Traditional Chinese Medicine and less use of immunosuppressants and biological agents [18] . Although the popularity of Traditional Chinese Medicine has increased both in China and some western countries, further studies are required to validate its efficacy and safety.