Objective To explore the potential mechanism of Qiling Granule（ QL

杞灵颗粒） in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration（ AMD）. Methods The mice were given 0. 8% hydroquinone（ HQ） diet for 5months to build AMD model then were randomized into model group

low dose QL group

medium dose QL group

high dose QL group and lutein group（ respectively given the same volume of distilled water

Qiling Granule dry extract of 3. 75

7. 5 and 15 g / kg and Lutein Tablet solution of 0. 18 g / kg）

17 mice in each group. The drugs were administered by gavage

and another 18 mice were given conventional diet as control group. Then we observed the retinal pathological morphology of the mice

the ultrastructure of retinal pigment epithelium（ RPE）- Bruch membrane choroid

the apoptosis rate of RPE

the expression of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine（ 8-OHd G） and the volume of serum total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase（ GSH-PX）. Results Compared with the model group

on the 14 th day of treatment

the low

medium dose QL group and the lutein group showed a protective action on RPE number（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）; on the 28 th day

they showed a significant protection action（ P < 0. 01）.Under transmission electron microscope

RPE in the model group and the lutein group showed vacuolization

the Bruch membranes were thicker than those in the control group and layered sediments could be seen in the outer collagenous zone. The ultrastructure in medium dose QL group was normal basically. Through TUNEL method

compared with the model group

on the 14 th day

the low dose

medium dose QL group and the lutein group and on the28 th day

the medium dose group and the lutein group showed suppression on the apoptosis of RPE（ P < 0. 05 or P <0. 01）. By 8-OHd G immunofluorescence method

compared with the model group

on the 14 th day

the low

medium dose QL group and the lutein group

and on the 28 th day

the low and medium dose QL group showed significant protective action on DNA of RPE（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. On the 14 th and the 28 th day after modeling

the T-SOD activity in the medium dose group was higher than that in the model group（ P < 0. 05）; but for protecting GSH-PX

the GSH-PX activity in the lutein group was higher than that in the model group just on the 28 th day（ P < 0. 05）.Conclusion Qiling Granule could reduce the damage of RPE-Bruch membrane choroid and lower the apoptosis rate of RPE

which might be the mechanism in treating AMD.