Objective: To study the protective effect of Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng formula (JPYZXZF) on nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin (CP) in mice and its possible mechanism. Method: Totally 40 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:the tumor-bearing group

the CP group

the JPYZXZF group and the CP+JPYZXZF group

with 10 mice in each group. Each group was orally given drugs for five days. BALB/c mice were injected with H22 cells to establish the tumor-bearing mice model and 20 mg·kg-1 cisplatin for one time to cause kidney damage. On the 10th day after the modeling

kidney index

blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

serum creatinine (SCr) and kidney pathological changes were observed. The apoptosis of renal tissues of the mice and relevant protein expressions of PI3K/AKT signal pathway were examined by TUNEL and Western blot. Result: Compared with the tumor-bearing group

kidney indexes

SCr and BUN were significant increased in the CP group (P<0.05)

with increase in apoptotic cells at renal tubules

down-regulation in the protein expressions of p-PI3K

p-AKT in renal tissues and up-regulation in Caspase-3 expression (P<0.05). Compared with the CP group

the CP+JPYZXZF group showed reduction in kidney indexes

SCr and BUN (P<0.05)

damages of renal tissues and apoptotic cells at renal tubules

up-regulation in the protein expressions of p-PI3K

p-AKT in renal tissues and down-regulation in Caspase-3 expression (P<0.05). Conclusion: JPYZXZF can reduce the nephrotoxicity caused by CP. Its mechanism is ccorelated with the activation of PI3K/AKT signal pathway and the decrease in the protein expression of Caspase-3.