Objective: To investigate the influence of Zhishi Xiaopi Pills combined with western medicine on Fas protein expression in gastric epithelial cells in rats with Helicobacter pylori infection and to explore the related mechanism. Method: BALB/c mice were fed with NaHCO3 solution of 5% and Helicobacter pylori(Hp) strains SS1 international standards to establish Hp infection

and randomly divided into three groups: the Chinese medicine group

the western medicine group

and the Chinese medicine combined with western medicine group. The injury of gastric mucous membrane

cell apoptosis index and epithelial cell expression of Fas were investigated by HE staining

Tunel method and immunohistochemical evaluation (SABC). Result: In three groups

the over-expression of epithelial Fas protein could be inhibited by the interventions. The model group expression was (28.30±2.36)%

while the Chinese medicine combined with western medicine group

the western medicine group and the Chinese medicine group were (15.50±2.39)%

(22.0±1.90)%

(25.9±2.34)% accordingly. The inhibition degree appeared to be the Chinese medicine combined with western medicine group>the western medicine group>the Chinese medicine group. In the three groups

the injury of gastric mucous membrane was improved to different degree. The Chinese medicine combined with western medicine group showed less injury (lesion index LI=1.10±0.18) compared with the western medicine group(1.30±0.26) and the Chinese medicine group (1.80±0.25). As cell apoptosis was concerned

the apoptosis index in the Chinese medicine combined with western medicine group (5.10±0.67)% was smaller than those in the western medicine group (8.70±0.88)% and the Chinese medicine group (11.60±1.11)%. The model showed an index of (16.60±1.74)%. Conclusion: Zhishi Xiaopi Pills combined with western medicine can improve Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric injury. The mechanism may be related to inhibition of cell apoptosis and inhibition of expressions of Fas protein in gastric epithelial cells.