Objective: To explore the influence of Niuhuang Jiedu tablet compatibility on realgar hepatotoxicity and its relationship with apoptosis regulation. Method: Forty ICR mice were randomly divided into realgar group

Niuhuang Jiedu tablet whole prescription group(7.8 g·kg-1)

Niuhuang Jiedu tablet whole prescription excluding Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma

Scutellariae Radix and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma group(3.8 g·kg-1)

Niuhuang Jiedu tablet whole prescription excluding realgar group(7.3 g·kg-1)

and normal group. The dose of realgar group was set to 0.5 g·kg-1

and doses of other groups were set(including the equivalent amount of realgar) according to the prescription ratio of Niuhuang Jiedu tablet in Chinese pharmacopoeia. Mice were administrated by oral for 9 weeks

then their pathological changes and oxidative damages in liver tissues were observed

and the terminal transferase labeling(TUNEL) and immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the hepatocyte apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related molecules in situ Bcl-2 and Bax. Result: Significant edema and local necrosis were found in liver tissue of realgar group mice

but the whole prescription group and other administration groups showed no significant abnormalities. Compared with the normal group

malondialdehyde(MDA) level was decreased was significantly increased in realgar group(P<0.05). TUNEL apoptosis index and the average optical density for expression of Bax were increased significantly

while the average optical density for expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased(P<0.05). Compared with the realgar group

MDA level(P<0.05)

TUNEL apoptosis index and the average optical density for expression of Bax were significantly decreased in Niuhuang Jiedu tablet whole prescription group

while the average optical density for expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased(P<0.05). TUNEL apoptosis index was increased in whole prescription excluding Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma

Scutellariae Radix and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma compared with the whole prescription

Bax expression was also increased significantly

but Bcl-2 expression had no apparent changes. Conclusion: The compatibility for Niuhuang Jiedu tablet could decrease the hepatotoxicity induced by realgar

and inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis may be one of its mechanisms

and such inhibition may be achieved by promoting Bcl-2 expression and inhibiting Bax expression. The inhibition drugs may be associated with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma

Scutellariae Radix

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma in the whole prescription.