Abstract: AIM: To explore the effect of xuebijing injection on the liver injury and gene expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in septic rats. METHODS: 40 male rats were randomly divided into control group (n=10), sham operation group (n=10), model group (n=10) and xuebijing group (n=10). Before operation, the animals in all the groups were immediately given xuebijing 5 mL/kg or physiological saline 5 mL/kg intravenous push to caudal vein respectively for 3 days. The sepsis animal models were established with cecum ligation puncture method. The sham operation group was done the same anesthesia and midline laparotomy, the cecum was exteriorized and returned to the abdominal cavity. The levels of ALT and AST in serum were detected with automatic biochemistry analyzer, and TNF-α level were detected with ELISA, NF-κB gene expression were determined by Real-time PCR. RESULTS: The levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α and the gene expressions of NF-κB significantly increased in model group as compared to control group (P<0.05). Xuebijing injection markedly decreased the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α and the gene expressions of NF-κB (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Xuebijing injection was efficient to ameliorate liver dysfunction in septic rats and effectively lessen liver inflammatory reaction. The mechanism probably by its inhibition of gene expression of NF-κB.

Key words: sepsis, NF-κB, gene expression, xuebijing injection