Objective To study the effect of Xiaohuang Decoction（Decoction to abate jaundice） on liver cirrhosis rats induced by dimethylnitrosamine（DMN）.Methods Thirty-four male Wistar rats were randomized into normal group（n=10） and DMN model group（n=24）.The liver cirrhosis models were established by intraperitoneally injecting DMN.After 2 weeks

3 rats were selected for observation from the normal group and the model group respectively.The remaining model rats were randomized into Xiaohuang Decoction group

Gadolinium chloride（GdCl3） group and model control group

with 7 in each.Each group was given DMN for another 2 weeks.Xiaohuang Decoction and GdCl3 was given to Xiaohuang Decoction group by gastric perfusion

and GdCl3（7mg/kg） was given to the GdCl3 group by tail vein injection twice per week.All rats were executed after 4 weeks.The death condition

body weight

liver morphous

liver function the weight of liver and spleen and the histological change of hepatic issue were observed.Results The liver fibrosis and cirrhosis occurred respectively after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of modeling.Comparing with the normal group

the contents of alanine aminotransferase（ALT）

aspartate aminotransferase（AST）

alkaline phosphatase（ALP） and total bilirubin（TBiL） increased significantly in the model group

but the contents of total serum protein（TP） and albumn（Alb） decreased significantly.At the end of the 4th week

the contents of ALT

AST

ALP and TBiL decreased significantly（P<0.05 or P<0.01） in Xiaohuang Decoction group

but the contents of TP and Alb increased significantly（P<0.01） as compared with the model control group.Xiaohuang Decoction could obviously improve the histopathology and collagen dyeing change of the hepatic tissue.But GdCl3 did not have the significant effect as compared with Xiaohuang Decoction.Conclusion Xiaohuang Decoction is significantly effective for DMN induced liver cirrhosis in rats with clearing heat

dis-inhibiting dampness

quickening the blood and transforming stasis.