To explore the changes of IL-23 and TNF-α in different stages of the patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) treated with Chinese materia medica empirical formula. Methods:A total of 26 patients who were diagnosed as UC through TCM syndrome differentiation in Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of TCM from April 2011 to August 2014, were treated with Chinese materia medica empirical formula. Biopsy was performed during active stage and remission stage. The expression of IL-23 and TNF-α in the intestina1 mucosa in different stages were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Another 26 healthy volunteers were selected as control. Results:The expression levels of IL-23 and TNF-αin active stage were higher than those of the control group and those in remission stage with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in UC remission stage when compared with control group. Conclusion:Chinese materia medica empirical formula could reduce the inflammatory reaction of UC patients in active stage, so as to inhibit damage to intestina1 mucosa.