Abstract: AIM: To explore the curative effect and mechanism of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SMB) against mice' s viral encephalitis induced by simple herpes virus-1(HSV-1).METHODS: To establish damage model of viral encephalitis in order to observe the mortality rate of mouse,to test the level change of the factors of cells such as IL-1β,IFN-γ,NO and to observe the structural change in neural cells under the electron microscope.RESULTS: Cells swelled,nucleoli pyknosised and the structure of nucleus was damaged after been inoculated with HSV-1 under the electron microscope.There was hollow-like change in mitochondria and virus-like pellet in nucleus,spine was damaged,the levels of IL-1β,IFN-γ,NO and the death rate obviously increased in model group,and those indexes decreased after treating with SMB except IFN-γ.CONCLUSION: Early treated with SMB has certain clinical curative effect.It may result from regulating immune response in the body.

Key words: herpes simple virus-I, cerebral damage, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge