Objective: This study was aimed at investigating the effects and mechanism of saponins from bupleurum chinense on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. Method: The rats were divided into control group

model group

bupleurum chinense saponins group (0.047 g·kg-1) and omeprazole group (0.012 g·kg-1) respectively. After two weeks treatment

the experimental gastric damages were established by intragastric ethanol.The protective effects of bupleurum chinense saponins were evaluated by calculating lesion indices and observing pathological changes; meanwhile

the contents prostaglandin E2(PGE2)

superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) in serum were measured with euzymelinked immunosorbent assay to determine the protecting mechanism. Result: The lesion indices of bupleurum chinense saponins group were significantly lower than the model group(P<0.01). There was no damage was detected in most of rats in treatment group except for small damages in a few rats

and the integral between bupleurum chinense saponins and treatment groups showed statistical differences(P<0.05). The contents of PGE2

SOD in serum of bupleurum chinense saponins group were higher while MDA was lower than the model group(all P<0.01). Conclusion: bupleurum chinense saponins show obvious protective effect on gastric mucosa damage

and its mechanism may be through restraining the gastric mucosa acid secretion and counteracting the injury of free radical.