title: [Molecular mechanisms involved in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by Pulsatilla decoction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate molecular mechanisms underlying in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by Pulsatilla decoction.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hong-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huan-Huan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Dun
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D031946:Pulsatilla / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497787:Smad3 protein, rat; D051906:Smad7 Protein; C497808:Smad7 protein, rat; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1