AbstractUlcerative colitis is a chronic and recurrent gastrointestinal intestinal disease accompanied by inflammatory disorders, immunologic inadequacy, and intestinal flora dysbiosis, and current therapeutic pharmaceuticals have limited side effects. In this study, we revealed the extraction method ofChimonanthus salicifolius, analyzed the main component, compared the effect of its extract,Lactobacillus, and conventional drugs with different properties on DSS (dextran sodium sulfate)‐induced colitis, and indicated extract regulatory properties of inestinal flora. A colitis model was established on experimental design, and BALB/c mice (male, 7 weeks old) were randomly assigned to five groups (n= 10): control, DSS model,Chimonanthus salicifoliusextract (CSE),Lactobacillus rhamnosusGG (LGG), and 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) groups. The three treatments could alleviate the symptoms and remit inflammation induced by DSS, in which CSE and LGG groups could both decrease the proinflammatory cytokine IL‐6, IL‐8, and TNF‐α levels and increase anti‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐10 and TGF‐β. The CSE intervention significantly promoted the higher production of butyric acid than LGG and 5‐ASA groups (p< .05) after DSS challenge. Analysis of intestinal flora showed that CSE administration remarkably decreased the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteriaHeliobacteriaceaeandPeptococcaceaeand exhibited higher abundance ofLactobacillaceaeandBifidobacteriumthan LGG in intestinal tract of mice (p< .05). These findings indicated thatChimonanthus salicifoliusextract may have been beneficial for preventing and treating colitis.