Abstract: Objective To investigate the protective effects of Shuanghuanglian,a herbal compound,in mice with murine hepatitis virus strain 3（MHV-3）-induced fulminant liver failure （FLF）. Methods 36 BABL/36 cJ mice were randomly divided into control,model and Shuanghuanglian-intervened group,and the model of FLF was established by intravenous injection of 1×10⁶ PFU/ml MHV-3. 10% of Shuanghuanglian compound or normal saline was given by gavage for 7 days after the model was successfully established. The chemokine IP-10 mRNA in liver tissues and serum MHV-3 DNA loads were quantitatively assayed by RT-PCR,and serum transforming growth factor beta 1（TGF- beta 1）,interleukin-10 （IL-10）,laminin（LN）,hyaluronic acid （HA） and liver function index were detected routinely. Results Serum ALT levels in the model and Shuanghuanglian-intervened group at end of 7 days were （229.03±30.56） U/L and （22.83±6.02） IU/L,AST were （139.01±11.75） U/L and （32.45±4.59） U/L. LN were （99.86±10.57） nmol/L and （57.02±7.24） nmol/L, HA were （117.05±16.72） nmol/L and （53.01±11.35）nmol/L,TGF-beta l were （319.46±39.12） pg/ml and （93.87±11.20） pg/ml,IL-10 were （25.70±3.87） pg/ml and（1.07±0.09） pg/ml,MHV-3 DNA were（12.47±3.05） lg copies/mL and（1.24±0.10） lg copies/mL,and IP-10 mRNA in liver tissues were[（25.70±3.87）and（12.79±3.08）,P<0.05]. Conclusion Shuanghuanglian,a herbal compound,has a certain effect of anti MHV-3 virus,and the mechanism by which it works might be through inhibiting the expression of IP-10 mRNA,reducing the inflammatory damage of IL-10 to the hepatocytes,preventing liver fibrosis and promoting the recovery of liver functions.

Key words: Liver failure, Murine hepatitis virus strain 3, Shuanghuanglian,herbal medicine, Chemokine IP-10, Transforming growth factor-βl, Interleukin-10, Mice