Objective: To observe the effects of Aβ42 deposition on the expression of hippocampal inflammatory cytokines and phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase（MAPK） signal molecules

and the intervention by Modified Danggui Shaoyao Powder（JWDSS）.Method: Alzheimer’s disease（AD） model was established by stereotactic injection of fibrillar Aβ42 into the hippocampus of 12 week-old female SD rats being divided into 6 groups.JWDSS（70.654

35.327 g·kg-1·d-1） was given for intervention

and celebrex（0.183 g·kg-1·d-1） was used as control.Expression of inflammatory cytokines and phosphorylated MAPK pathway signaling molecules were observed by immunohistochemistry（SABC） methods and SABC images were analyzed by an image analyzing software.Result: Compared with the control group

the positive stained areas of interleukin-1β（IL-1β）

IL-6 and phospho-p38（p-p38）

p-JNK and p-MEK3 /6 increased with decreased staining intensity in the modelgroup.Protein expression quantity was inversely proportional to the staining intensity.The positive stained areas of IL-1β

IL-6 and p-p38

p-JNK and p-MEK3 /6 in the treatment groups decreased and their staining intensity increased

compared with the AD model group.Conclusion:Aβ42 deposition in hippocampus can induce inflammation of the brain and over-expression of IL-1β

IL-6 and p-p38

p-JNK

p-MEK3 /6.Inhibiting the over-expression of inflammatory cytokines and phosphorylated MAPK signaling molecules may be a major antagonistic mechanism of JWDSS for AD.