Abstract: Aim The therapeutic effect of“shen-bing No 5”,a preparation of traditional Chinese medicine on adenine-induced chronic nephritis in rats was studied. Methods Chronic nepbritis in rats was induced by giving adenine 80 mg·kg ^-1·d^-1 orally. The model rats were treated by“shen-bing No 5”in different dosages. Levels of urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine (Cr), total protein(TP),and Na⁺ in serum and or urine were detected and the changes of kidney were obseraed.Results The “shen-bing No 5”markedly lowered the levels of urine protein in 24 hours, BUN in urine and BUN, Na⁺in serum (P<0. 05). The kidney weight and the index of kidney weight were significantly different (P<0.01) from those in the adenine model group. The pathological examination of kidneys showed the“ shen-bing No 5” also could alleviate the expansion of renal tubules and diminish the interstitial inflammatory cell. Conclusion “Shen-bing No 5”can improve the renal function and delay the development of chronic nephritis.

Key words: "Shen-bing No 5", chronic nephritis, Adenine