Objective:Tostudy the effects of Xiongshao decoction（XSD）on matrix metalloproteinase 9（MMP-9） and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1（TIMP-1）in rats with liver fibrosis.Method: Eighty-four SD rats were randemly divided into normal group

model group

Fuzheng Huayu capsule group（0.525 g·kg-1）

XSD preservation group（7.9 g · kg-1）

high and low doses of XSD group（15.8

7.9 g · kg-1）.The hepatic fibrosis model was induced by injecting porcine serum to the abdominal cavity of rats.The levels of MMP-9 was detected by ELISA.The content of TIMP-1mRNA in hepatic tissue was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Result: The content of MMP-9 was obviously higher in XSD preservation group（7.9 g · kg-1） than in model group（P<0.01）.The content of TIMP-1mRNA was obviously lower in high-dose XSD group（15.8 g · kg-1） than in model group（P<0.01）.Conclusion: XSD can promote the production of MMP-9 and suppress the expression of TIMP-1 mRNA.Regulating the balance between MMPs and TIMPs is one of the anti-hepatic fibrosis mechanisms of XSD.