Abstract: Objective To observe the protective effect of Fufangbiejia, a herbal medicine, on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced primary liver cancer (PLC) in rats and its impact on proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and α-SMA expression. Methods 40 SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, high and low dose of herbal medicine-intervened groups, with 10 in each. The DEN was used to induce hepatic neoplasmas in rats, and the herbal medicine at dose of 0.625 g·kg^-1 and 1.25 g·kg^-1 or saline for gavage were given for 20 weeks. The PCNA and α-SMA were stained immunohistochemically. Results The liver weights, surface carcinoma nodule numbers, canceralization rates and liver index were （17.34±1.78） g, 10.0%, （3.10±0.72） and （3.16±0.45） in high dose group, significantly lower than in the model group 【（25.59±2.38） g, 100.0%,（4.95±0.58） and （14.14±2.37）,P<0.05】; the liver weights, surface carcinoma nodule numbers, canceralization rates and liver index were （19.89±1.80）g, 30.0%, （3.89±0.81） and （7.38±1.01） in low dose group, also significantly lower than in the model group and(P<0.05);the expression scores of PCNA and α-SMA were （5.98±1.12） and （7.96±1.37） in high dose group,and （9.23±1.34） and （12.34±2.88） in low dose group, both significantly lower than in the model group 【（19.59±2.67） and （25.12±3.19）,P<0.05】. Conclusions Fufangbiejia has a protective effect on DEN-induced primary liver cancer in rats, which might be related to the regulation of hepatic PCNA and α-SMA expression.

Key words: Hepatoma, Diethylnitrosamine, Herbal medicine, PCNA, α-SMA;, Rats