Butein, a major constituent of Toxicodendron vernicifluum ameliorated colitis in IL-10(-/-) mice by reducing the colonic inflammatory score by > 50%, reducing the expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ pSTAT3 and MMP-9, also inhibiting IL-6-induced activation of STAT3 in Colo 205 cells 330. The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is colitis.