Objective To explore possible mechanism of Shugan Jianpi Fang in preventing and treating hepatic fibrosis by metabonomics method. Methods Fifteen Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group（n = 5）

model group（n = 5） and Shugan Jianpi Fang group（n =5）. Rats in model group and Shugan Jianpi Fang group were given hypodermic injection of 50% carbon tetrachloride solution

0. 1 ml /100 g

twice a week

for 12 weeks to replicate rat models with hepatic fibrosis. From the first day of modeling

Shugan Jianpi Fang group was given Shugan Jianpi Fang 16. 2 g /（ kg·d） by gavage

and normal group and model group were given equivalent normal saline

once every day

for 16 weeks. Rats were killed after the last administration. Hepatic tissue was taken out to observe the pathological changes. Gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（ GC-TOFMS） was adopted to analyze the changes of metabolic profiling. Different compounds were identified and relative metabolic pathways were analyzed. Results In hepatic tissue of rats in model group

there was a little fatty degeneration

connective tissue proliferation

inflammatory cell infiltration

and atypical pseudolobule. Rats’ hepatic tissue of Shugan Jianpi Fang group showed no large-scale fat vacuole

but a little inflammatory cell infiltration and improved hepatic fibrosis. Compared with normal group

8 biomarkers including palmitic acid

eicosenoic acid

malic acid

fumaric acid

glutamine

halostachine

N-acetyl-4-amino butyric acid and gluconate were found in model group.Compared with model group

Shugan Jianpi Fang could change 8 biomarkers close to the normal levels. Conclusion Shugan Jianpi Fang could provide a certain extent protection to rats with hepatic fibrosis. The mechanism may be related to regulating the disorders of energy

tyrosine

fatty acid

amino acid

and glucose metabolism.