Objective: To study the resistant effects of Penthorum chinese extract on nonalcoholic fatty liver and possible therapeutic mechanism. Method: The experimental rats were divided into 6 groups:the control group

the model group

fenofibrate group(33 mg·kg-1)

P. chinense high-dose

middle-dose and low-dose group(16.7

8.4

4.2 g·kg-1).Except the control group

nonalcoholic fatty liver model was induced by fatty emulsion intragastrically for 9 weeks

those groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically.At the end of 9 weeks

alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

aspartate aminotransferase(AST)

total bilirubin(TBIL)

cholesterol(CHO)

triacylglycerol(TG)

high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)

low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) in blood were examined.Total choesterol(TC)

TG

free fatty acid(NEAF)

malondialdehyde(MDA)

total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)

glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)in hepatic tissue were detected

and the hepatic tissue pathological changes were observed. Result: Compared with the control group

all the indexs showed significant difference(P<0.05 or P<0.01)

the content of ALT

TBIL

TG

LDL-C in serum and TG

NEAF

MDA in hepatic tissue increased obviously

HDL-C decreased significantly

and the activity of GSH-Px decreased apparently.And pathological examination indicated steatosis appeared.Compared with model group

the content of ALT

TBIL

CHO

TG in the serum decreased in P. chinense groups(16.7

8.4

4.2 g·kg-1)

and HDL-C improved a little

TG and NEAF in the hepatic tissue decreased obviously

the activity of GSH-Px improved significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The pathological images of hepatic tissue and classified graded method of steatosis improved. Conclusion: P. chinese can treat nonalcoholic fatty liver.Its therapeutic mechanism is partly related to regulating lipid metabolism and anti-oxidative damage.