Objective: To study the effect of combined administration of Rhei Radixet Rhizoma and Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex in treating acute pancreatitis(AP)rats and its possible mechanism. Method: The SD rats were randomly divided into four groups

including sham-operated group

model group and six treatment groups(C-H). The rat model of acute pancreatitis was established by the retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate. At 15 min after injection

the rats were given drugs. Abdominalaortic blood was collected at 24 hours for determing serum amylase

pancreatic lipase

interleukelin-6(IL-6)

IL-10 and tumor necrosis fuctor-α(TNF-α) content. Pancreasand lung tissues were sent tothepathological examination. Western blot method was used for detecting nucleax factor-κB(NF-κB) protein expression in lung tissues. Result: Compared with model group

amylase

pancreatic lipase

IL-6

TNF-α

NF-κB protein expression in lung tissues in treatment groups were significantly decreased (P< 0.01

P< 0.05). But the IL-10 was significantly decreased (P< 0.01) only in group H. The pancreas in model group rats showed large necrosis and unclear structures of pancreatic acinar

and notably smaller alveolar cavity

alveolar epithelial hyperplasia and significantly increased interval.This situation had been greatly alleviated in treatment groups. Besides

NF-κB protein expression in lung tissues of treatment groups was remarkably lower than model group. Conclusion: Components in Rhei Radixet Rhizoma and Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex have an effect in treating acute pancreatitis

and its mechanism may be related to NF-κB protein regulation and inflammatory cytokines mediation.