Abstract: Objective To explore the protective effects of astragaloside in rats with CCL₄-induced liver injuries. Methods 50 SD rats were randomly divided into control,model,low-dose（40 mg·kg^-1）,middle-dose （80 mg·kg^-1） and large-dose（160 mg·kg^-1） of astragaloside-intervened groups. After successful modeling,the astragaloside was administered intragastricly except rats in control and model group. Serum parameters,hydroxyprolin （Hyp） and liver tissue homogenate superoxide dismutase（SOD）,glutathione（GSH） and malondialdehyde （MDA） were detected. The hepatocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL. Results Compared with in model group,liver tissue SOD,GSH and MDA and blood ALT,AST,bilirubin levels in low-dose,middle-dose and large-dose of astragaloside groups were significantly improved（P<0.05）,serum Hyp levels were significantly decreased （P<0.05）,and albumin levels were significantly increased （P<0.05）;the apoptotic bodies in liver tissues were（55.36±2.15）,（44.58±3.06） and （33.24±3.18）,respectively in low-dose,in middle-dose and in large-dose of astragaloside-intervened groups, significantly lower than （66.54±2.56） in the control （P<0.05）;liver histopathologic Results showed that the cellular cord disorder,cellular hydropic degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver tissues were significantly improved in low-dose,middle-dose and large-dose of astragaloside groups. Conclusion Astragaloside has a good protective effect in rats with CCL₄-induced liver injuries.

Key words: Liver damage, Apoptosis, Carbon tetrachloride, Astragaloside, Rats