Acute colitis was induced by exposing male SD rats to 4% DSS in drinking water for 8 days. Rats were divided into four groups as follows: DSS group---DSS-induced colitis; DSS + SRE group---SRE, 100 mg/kg/day in addition to DSS; Ctr + SRE group---SRE alone; and Ctr group---sham control group. The colon damage was elucidated by macroscopic, histological, electrophysiological and biochemical assessment. Orally administered SRE significantly reduced the colonic damage in all four aspects. However, baicalein did not show similar effect in the same experiment. / In summary, our finding indicated that both SRE and its major flavonoid, baicalein, could stimulate chloride secretion in human colonic T84 cells and mucosa freshly isolated from human colon. Although SRE was effective in treating acute DSS-induced ulcerative colitis, baicalein is unlikely the active anti-inflammatory component of SRE. Nevertheless, the results demonstrated that this TCM has a scientific basis for its effectiveness. Our data support further evaluation of the therapeutic potential of SRE for the treatment of IBD. / In TCM, Scutellariae radix and Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) derived compounds have been frequently used for gastroenteritis and secretory diarrhea. Our laboratory findings suggested that the major flavonoid component of SR, baicalein, stimulates chloride secretion in rat distal colon, probably via CFTR activation (Ko et al., 2002). In contrast, limited information about the cellular mechanism of chloride secretion induced by SR in human colonic epithelia is available. Therefore, the effect of Scutellariae radix extract (SRE) on electrolyte transport in a human colonic epithelial cell line, T84, was examined using the short-circuit current (ISC) technique. Results demonstrated that SRE stimulated a Cl--dependent secretion across T84 cells, probably via both Ca2+- and cAMP-mediated pathway. / On the other hand, the cellular mechanism of baicalein-induced Cl - secretion in T84 cells was further investigated. It was found that the secretory mechanisms involve protein kinase A (PKA)-, adenylate cyclase (AC)- and luminal cAMP-dependent Cl- channels, most likely cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and serosal 293B-sensitive K + channels. However, the action of baicalein cannot be solely explained by its cAMP-elevating effect. In addition, the effect of baicalein could be potentiated by the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K). Furthermore, it was found that inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) delta limited the baicalein-induced chloride secretion. / Our laboratory has found that baicalein (Ko et al., 2002 and Yue et al., 2003) stimulates chloride secretion in rat distal colon and human colonic T84 cells. As it is known that responses in the animal model or the cell line may not completely reflect the in vivo physiology, it is important to study the above responses in human colon. With scarce supply of freshly isolated human colonic mucosa, the results showed that the effect of SRE and baicalein on ion transport in human samples is similar to that obtained in T84 cell line and rat model. / Scutellariae radix (SR) is the dry root of Scutellariae baicalensis Georgi (Huangqin). SR has been employed for centuries as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for various purposes. It contains a large amount of flavonoids such as baicalein, baicalin, and wogonin, which possess a number of beneficial bioactivities including anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, etc. / Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), has been known for more than half a century. Recent studies have shown that two flavonoids derived from SR, baicalein and wogonin, might alleviate the symptoms of IBD. Moreover, SR is the major component of Hange-shasshin-to (HST), one of the Chinese herbal formulas, which has been reported to suppress the pathogenesis of IBD. The above scientific background led us to examine the effect of SRE administration on DSS-induced colitis in rats in a way to evaluate new treatments potentially applicable to UC in humans. / Chung, Ho Lam. / "August 2007." / Adviser: W. H. Ko. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 0925. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.