Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Gexia Zhuyutang on oxidative stress and glutathione (GSH) antioxidant system in liver tissues of rats with hepatic fibrosis. Method: A total of 60 rats were randomly divided into blank group

normal group

model group

and Gexia Zhuyutang group. The hepatic fibrosis model of rats was established by intraperitoneal injection of porcine serum twice weekly (0.5 mL/rat)

and Gexia Zhuyutang (crude drug 7.37 g · kg-1 · d-1) or normal saline was simultaneously administered daily by gavage for 12 weeks. Malondiadehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels in liver tissues were determined by colorimetric method. Real-time PCR was used to analyze glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLc) mRNA expression

and Western blot was used to analyze the glycogen synthasc kinase-3β (GSK-3β) phosphorylation and GCLc protein expression in the liver. Result: As compared with the model group

Gexia Zhuyutang significantly inhibited MDA content and increased GSH content in fibrotic liver tissues

up-regulated GCLc expression

nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein expression

and increased GSK-3β) phosphorylation level. Conclusion: Gexia Zhuyutang exhibited remarkable antioxidant activities in livers tissue of the porcine serum rat model

which may be correlated with the enhancement of the glutathione antioxidant system via activating Nrf2 signaling pathway.