Patrinia, particularly Patrinia scabiosaefolia and Patrinia villosa, has been traditionally used in East Asian medicine for the treatment of intestinal disorders, including colitis. Recent preclinical research provides some scientific basis for its use. Several in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that extracts of Patrinia possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory effects. For instance, studies in animal models of colitis (such as dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice) have shown that Patrinia extracts can reduce disease severity, inhibit inflammatory cytokine production (such as TNF-α, IL-6), and protect colon tissue from pathological damage. Some mechanisms proposed include the modulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and regulation of gut microbiota composition.

However, there is a lack of high-quality human clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of Patrinia for colitis. Most evidence comes from laboratory and animal studies, with only a few small-scale or uncontrolled clinical reports. As such, while there is a scientific rationale and some experimental support (hence the evidence rating of 2), the evidence is not robust enough to firmly establish Patrinia as an effective treatment for colitis in clinical practice. Additional rigorous clinical studies are required to validate these findings and ensure safety in human populations.