Table 1. Demographic data and pre-study clinical characteristics for the two treatment methods (mesalazine and herbal preparation) and the healthy control group.
| Mesalazine | HerbalPreparation | P value | Control | |
| Characteristics | (n = 39) | (n = 40) | ||
| Men/Women | 19/20 | 18/22 | ns | 3/2 |
| Mean Age (y) | 45.2±13.0 | 51.0±14.0 | 0.062 | 43.0±12.0 |
| Montreal Classification [57] * | ||||
| E1 Proctitis | 7 | 5 | ns | |
| E2 Left-sided colitis | 22 | 20 | ns | |
| E3 Extensive colitis | 10 | 15 | ns | |
| Mean Duration of ulcerative colitis (y) | 11.3±9.5 | 12.7±10.7 | ns | |
| CAI≤4 | 39 | 40 | ||
| CAI (mean) | 0.9±1.0 | 0.8±1.0 | ns | |
| Endoscopy Score (mean) | 1.0±1.4 | 1.1±1.5 | ns | |
| Endoscopy Score without | 79% | 73% | ns | |
| signs of acute inflammation | ||||
| Taking oral 5-ASA maintenance medication at baseline | 31 | 22 | 0.046 |
ns = not significant.
*E1 Ulcerative proctitis: Involvement limited to the rectum (that is, proximal extent of inflammation is distal to the rectosigmoid junction). E2 Left-sided UC (distal UC): Involvement limited to a portion of the colorectum distal to the splenic flexure. E3 Extensive UC (pancolitis): Involvement extends proximal to the splenic flexure.