Clinical efficacy: the treatment efficacy of patients was assessed as per the Consensus Opinion on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Cured: the patients’ clinical symptoms disappeared, and colonoscopy showed a normal intestinal mucosa; Markedly effective: the patients’ clinical symptoms were alleviated significantly, and colonoscopy showed significantly relieved inflammation of intestinal mucosa; Effective: the patients’ clinical symptoms were alleviated, and colonoscopy showed relieved inflammation of intestinal mucosa; Ineffective: No significant changes were seen in patients’ clinical symptoms and colonoscopy results.

Intestinal microflora score:11 Before and after treatment, the intestinal microflora score was used to assess the intestinal flora of the patients. The scale is scored out of 5. The higher the score of the patient, the more serious the dysbiosis of the intestinal flora.

Enteroscopy score:12 (link) Before and after treatment, patients’ intestinal mucosal conditions were assessed with a colonoscopy score out of 4. The higher the score of the patient, the more serious the intestinal mucosal symptoms.

Sutherland index:13 (link) Before and after treatment, the Sutherland index was used to assess the disease activity of patients in terms of intestinal mucosal status, rectal bleeding and diarrhea frequency. The scale was scored out of 12 points, and the higher the score of the patient, the more serious the disease symptoms.

Levels of inflammatory factors: Before and after treatment, 5 mL of morning fasting elbow venous blood was collected from patients and routinely centrifuged to isolate the serum. The serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and interleukin-23 (IL-23) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Intestinal mucosal barrier function level: Before and after treatment, 5 mL of morning fasting elbow venous blood was collected from patients and centrifuged to obtain the serum. The colorimetric method was used to determine the level of D-lactate in the patient, and the ELISA method was used to determine the level of serum diamine oxidase (DAO).

Adverse events: The adverse events included in this study included abdominal distension and abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, and abnormal liver function.