Objective: To compare the effects of Yinchenhao Tang compound decoction dispensing granules

single dispensing granules and traditional decoction on carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in mice.Method: Ninety mice were randomly divided into blank group

model group

positive group

Yinchenhao Tang compound decoction dispensing granules high

medium and low dose groups (17.16

8.58 and 4.29 g·kg-1)

single dispensing granules high and medium dose groups (17.16 and 8.58 g·kg-1)

and traditional decoction group (4.29 g·kg-1). The mice in blank group and model group received water by intragastric administration everyday

and the mice in other seven groups were treated with prophylactic administration for 7 days. After intragastric administration at 7th day

all the groups except blank group received 0.05% carbon tetrachloride by intraperitoneal injection to establish acute liver injury models. The activities or contents of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

total protein (TP)

albumin (ALB) and total bilirubin (TBIL) via eye socket were detected after 18 hours. Mice livers were taken for HE staining to observe the histopathological changes; liver homogenate was taken to test superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) contents. The changes of main active ingredients among three different preparation methods were simply compared.Result: All of Yinchenhao Tang compound decoction dispensing granules

single dispensing granules and traditional decoction can reduce the degree of CCl4-induced liver injury; while the effects of Yinchenhao Tang compound decoction dispensing granules high dose group were superior to the single dispensing granules and traditional decoction groups(P<0.05

P<0.01).Conclusion: Yinchenhao Tang can protect the carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury. Effect of compound decoction was better than single dispensing granules possibly due to the different active principle dissolution rate in combined frying process. As compared with traditional decoction

the compound decoction had better effect possibly due to higher effective composition content with optimization process. Its mechanism for protecting liver may be related to scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.