Objective To investigate the effects of Erchen Decoction（ 二陈汤） on blood lipids in hyperlipidemia model rats with phlegm syndrome and its possible mechanism. Methods A total of 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group

a model group and an Erchen Decoction group

with 10 rats in each group. Rats except the normal group were fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks to prepare a model of hyperlipidemia with phlegm syndrome.After the model was established

the Erchen Decoction group was given intragastric administration of 0. 435 g/ml Erchen Decoction at 10 ml/（ kg·d）. The normal group and the model group were given the same volume of normal saline for 12 weeks. The body weight

body length

and abdominal circumference of each group of rats were compared. The Lee’s index was calculated. The total cholesterol（ TC）

triglyceride（ TG）

high density lipoprotein（ HDL）

and low density lipoprotein（ LDL） contents in the serum were detected. HE staining was used to observe the pathological and morphological changes of liver tissue

and the expressions of mRNA and protein of long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase 1（ ACSL1）

long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase 4（ ACSL4） in rat liver tissue were detected. Results Compared with the normal group

the body weight

abdominal circumference

and Lee’s index of the model group rats were significantly increased

and the serum TC content was increased（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. HE staining showed that the liver cells had significant fat vacuoles

and accompanied by inflammatory infiltration. The expression of ACSL1

ACSL4 mRNA and protein in liver tissues increased（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. Compared with the model group

the TC content in the Erchen Decoction group was significantly reduced（ P < 0. 05）. Pathology showed that the morphology of hepatocytes was significantly improved

and the steatosis vacuole-like hepatocytes were significantly reduced

which was close to normal cells. The expression of ACSL4

ACSL1 mRNA and protein in liver tissues decreased（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. Conclusion Erchen Decoction has a lipid-lowering effect on hyperlipidemia rats with phlegm syndrome. The mechanism may be related to the abnormal fatty acid metabolism caused by adjusting the high-fat diet.