Objective: To investigate the protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza against acute liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. Method: Fifty NIH mice were randomly divided into five groups

low-dose (3.9 g ·kg-1) of SMPS (SMPS-L)

middle-dose (7.8 g ·kg-1)of SMPS (SMPS-M)

and high-dose (15.6 g ·kg-1) of SMPS (SMPS-H)were given daily via gavage for a period of 7 days. The control group and model group were given an equal volume of saline. Seven days later

the mice were given LPS(5 mg ·kg-1) (control received saline alone) via lateral tail vein injection. Three hours after the injection of LPS

the mice were weighed and the blood was collected from mice orbit. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH)in the liver tissue were measured by colorimetric method

and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was determined. The pathological change of liver was observed using light microscope. Result: SMPS could significantly reduced contend of MDA and the serum levels of ALT

nevertheless the levels of GSH significantly increased. Conclusion: SMPS offers obvious effects on protecting acute liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharide.