Objective To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Dahuang Fuzi Decoction（大黄附子汤） on adenine-induced chronic renal failure. Methods Male KM mice were randomly divided into a normal group

a model group

a dexamethasone group and Dahuang Fuzi Decoction low

medium and high dose groups

with 15 mice in each group. Except the normal group

the other groups used adenine to induce chronic renal failure model mice. From the third week of the experiment

the low

medium

and high dose groups of Dahuang Fuzi Decoction were administered with daily concentrations of 0.84

4.2

and 42 mg/g Dahuang Fuzi Decoction by gavage. The volume of gavage was 1 ml/20 g; the first dose of gavage in the dexamethasone group was 0.06 mg/kg

and the maintenance dose was 0.015 mg/kg; the mice in the normal group and the model group were gavage with normal saline 1 ml/20 g. All groups were administrated by gavage once a day for 3 weeks. The general situation of the mice was recorded

and the body weight of the mice was measured after the experiment. The kidney coefficient was calculated. The renal function including blood urea nitrogen（BUN）

serum creatinine（Scr）

electrolytes including K

+

Na

+

Cl

-

and the periphery blood transforming growth factor β1（TGF-β1） and bone morphogenetic protein 7（BMP-7） levels were detected. Renal tissue was taken for pathological section with HE staining

and the expression of Smad 6

P38 protein in renal tissue was detected. Results In the model group

the renal tissue pathology showed glomerular degeneration

decreased number

balloon adhesion

renal interstitial collagen deposition

and obvious interstitial fibrosis. Compared with the model group

the renal tissue lesion in the dexamethasone group and Dahuang Fuzi Decoction low

medium and high dose groups were improved

and the improvement effect of Dahuang Fuzi Decoction high dose group was the most significant. Compared with the model group

the body weight

kidney coefficient

and BMP-7 levels of peripheral blood of mice in each dose group of Dahuang Fuzi Decoction increased

and the levels of TGF-β1 and Cl decreased（P

<

0.05）. Dahuang Fuzi Decoction high dose group was better in decreasing BUN

Scr

and TGF-β1 in mice

increasing BMP-7 levels

and Smad 6 protein expression in kidney tissues were better than Dahuang Fuzi Decoction low

medium dose groups（P

<

0.05）. Conclusion Dahuang Fuzi Decoction high dose group can improve renal function and renal pathology in adenine-induced chronic renal failure mice. The mechanism may reduce or prevent the development of renal fibrosis through the TGF-β1/BMP-7 and Smads signaling pathways.