Objective: To observe the effect of Qingre Huayu decoction(Qinggan decoction) on expression of high mobility group box 1 protein(HMGB1) in liver tissue of acute liver failure(ALF) rats

and to explore the mechanism of anti-ALF from mRNA level. Method: Rats were injected intraperitoneally with D-GalN 1.4 g· kg-1 to induce ALF rat model. One hundred and twenty five SD rats were randomly divided into four groups

that was normal group

model group

Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC) group and Qinggan decoction group according to whether or not to accept the modeling and drug intervention. Each group was further randomly divided into two subgroups according to different time points

a total of 8 groups. The first subgroup was used to collect blood and liver tissue samples at hour 36

while the second was applied to observe the survival rate of rats at hour 96.Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)

aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin(TBiL) levels were measured via automatic biochemical analysis; plasma prothrombin time(PT) level was measured via automatic coagulation analysis while for liver pathomorphology observation via HE staining. To detect high mobility group box 1 protein(HMGB1) mRNA expression changes via quantitative RT-PCR

and to calculate the target gene relative expression level of the housekeeping gene β-actin as control by 2-ΔΔCt method. Result: After 96-hour treatment

mean survival times of the three groups were 64.6

71.9

83.3 hours respectively; cumulative survival rate of rats in Qinggan decoction group was higher than that of rats in model group(P<0.05). Compared with the model group

the levels of HMGB1 mRNA/β-actin were remarkably reduced in the normal group

Qinggan decoction group and SNMC group(0.006±0.003

0.067±0.033

0.112±0.027 vs 0.245±0.153

all P<0.01). The level of ALT

AST

TBiL and PT were significantly lower in the Qinggan decoction group than in the SNMC group(P<0.01). Compared with the model group

the levels of ALT

AST

TBiL and PT were remarkably reduced in the normal group

Qinggan decoction group and SNMC group(P<0.01). The level of ALT

AST

TBiL and PT were significantly lower in the Qinggan decoction group than in the SNMC group(P<0.01). Compared with the model group

the level of liver tissue damage degree score was also significantly reduced in the Qinggan decoction group and SNMC group(1.84±0.13

2.85±0.20 vs 3.56±0.24

both P<0.01). The level of liver tissue damage degree score was significantly lower in the Qinggan group than in the SNMC group(P<0.01). Conclusion: Qinggan decoction can be effective in improving liver function

blood coagulation

liver pathology and reducing mortality in D-GalN-induced acute liver failure rats

and its molecular mechanisms may be related to inhibition of HMBG1 expression.