Objective:To study the protective effect of the Gynostemma pentaphyllum polysaccharide on the CCl4-induced liver injure in rats. Method: The liver injure was induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) in rats

rats were divided into four groups randomly: model group

Bifendate group (40 mg·kg-1)

low-and high-dose groups of G. pentaphyllum polysaccharide (40

80 g·kg-1)

as well as normal group was set up for 30 consecutive days. At the end of 30 days

the blood was collected and the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were examined

the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) mRNA in liver were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis. The expression of B cell lymphoma/leukmia-2(Bcl-2)/Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax) in hepatic tissue was determined by Western blot analysis

and the changes of hepatic histopathology was observed by HE-staining. Result: Compared with model control group

G. pentaphyllum polysaccharide significantly decreased the levels of AST and ALT in liver injure induced by CCl4in rats (P<0.05)

while the iNOS mRNA expression in hepatic tissue was down-regulated (P<0.05). The level of Bcl-2/Bax was elevated in hepatic tissue (P<0.05)

and liver injure was alleviated. Conclusion: The results disclose that G. pentaphyllum polysaccharide has protective effect on the CCl4-induced liver injure in rats

mechanism of which may be related to inhibiting the cytotoxicity and anti-apoptotic pathways.