Objective: To observe the protective effects of Erzhiwan by prophylactic and therapeutic administrations for the liver cytothesis obstacle in rats after injury

and investigate its mechanism. Method: The 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:normal group

model group

Erzhiwan prophylactic group (6.48 g·kg-1)

Erzhiwan therapeutic group (6.48 g·kg-1)

and Rapamycin group (1 mg·kg-1). In normal group

partial hepatectomy (PHx) was conducted to establish PHx models; in the other groups

animals received intragastric administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene/partial hepatectomy (2-AAF) for 7 days; meanwhile

in the Erzhiwan prophylactic group

those rats were administrated with Erzhiwan for 7 days

and on the 8th day

PHx was conducted to establish compound models of liver cytothesis obstacle after injury (2AAF/PHx models). 24 h after surgery

the rats in the prophylactic and therapeutic groups were administrated with Erzhiwan for three days. After rats were killed

the index of liver weight was calculated; liver pathomorphological changes were observed; and the levels of alanine transarninase (ALT)

aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and albumin in serum were detected by using automatic biochemical analyzer. In addition

liver apoptosis and Caspase-3 expression levels were analyzed by flow cytometry. Result: As compared with the normal group

the index of liver weight

albumin level and count of living cell(LC) were significantly decreased

while ALT and AST levels

non-viable non-apoptotic cell(NVNAC)

viable apoptotic cell(VAC)

non-viable apoptotic cell(NVAC) and Caspase-3 expression levels were significantly incereased in model group (P <0.05

P <0.01). As compared with the model group

the index of liver weight

level of albumin and count of LC were increased

however

the levels of ALT

AST

NVNAC

VAC

NVAC and Caspase-3 expression levels were decreased in both Erzgu pill prophylactic and therapeutic groups (P <0.05

P <0.01). Meanwhile pathological observation hinted that injured livers were improved markedly. Conclusion: Erzhiwan remarkably inhibited liver apoptosis

and decreased Caspse-3 expression of 2-AAF/PHx rats to remit damaged liver function. So Erzhiwan play a favorable and protective role in treatment of cytothesis obstacle of damaged liver in rats