OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic action of actarit(Acta) in type II collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) mice. METHODS: To prepare CIA mice model by C II emulsion and to observe the change of inflammatory and immune function in CIA mice treated with Acta. RESUITS: Acta (10,30,90 mg·kg-1 × 40 d) intragastric injection(ig) inhibited inflammatory swelling, multiple arthritis, pathologic change in ankle of CIA mice. In CIA mice, the high response of splenocytes, the increased IL-2 synthesis of CIA mice and the elevated IL-1 synthesis of PMΦ were all reduced to normal by treated with Acta (10,30,90 mg·kg-1). Acta (10,30,90 mg·kg-1 × 38 d) significantly suppressed the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction induced with type II collagen (C II) in CIA mice. But Acta (10,30,90 mg·kg-1 × 40 d) had no effect on the production of anti-C II CU antibodies in CIA mice. CONCLUSION: Acta showed therapeutic action in CIA mice which could be related to modulate cell-mediate immunity.