ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective mechanisms of Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (RSM) on chronic alcoholic liver injury in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The chronic alcoholic liver injury mouse model was established. The morphologic change of hepatic tissue was observed with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining; the levels of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) mRNA in hepatic tissue and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique; and the expression of TLR-4 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RSM could alleviate the fatty degeneration and adiponecrosis of hepatic cells induced by alcohol, down-regulate the expressions of TLR-4 mRNA and HO-1 mRNA, and significantly decrease the number of TLR-4 positive cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RSM could prevent liver injury from alcohol by way of influencing TLR-4 signal transcription.</p>