OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effect of high mobility group protein 1（HMGB1）-mediated inflammatory pathway in reducing hepatotoxicity of licorice-processed Tripterygium wilfordii

so as to provide evidence for elucidating the mechanism of licorice-processed Tripterygium wilfordii in reducing hepatotoxicity. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group

Tripterygium wilfordii group（16 g/kg unprocessed Tripterygium wilfordii）

and licorice-processed Tripterygium wilfordii group（16 g/kg unprocessed Tripterygium wilfordii）

with 8 cases in each group. Three groups were given continuous intragastric administration for 3 weeks

and the blank control group was given intragastric administration with 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Serum biochemical indicators of rats [aspartate aminotransferase（AST）

alanine aminotransferase（ALT）] were detected weekly. At the end of the third week of administration

the levels of inflammatory factors HMGB1

interleukin（IL）1β

IL-2 and tumor necrosis factor α（TNF-α） in serum of rats were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The protein expression levels of HMGB1

nuclear factor κB（NF-κB） and Toll-like receptor 4（TLR4） in rat liver were detected by western blotting. Histopathological changes of rat liver were observed after Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. RESULTS: Compared with the Tripterygium wilfordii group

the levels of ALT and AST in licorice-processed Tripterygium wilfordii group were significantly lower（P<0.01）

the damage of liver pathological structure decreased

the levels of TNF-α

IL-1β and HMGB1 decreased significantly（P<0.01）

and the levels of IL-2 decreased（P<0.05）

the expressions of HMGB1 pathway related proteins TLR4 and NF-κB decreased（P<0.05）

and the expression of HMGB1 decreased（P<0.01）

with statistically significant differences. Compared with the blank control group

there was no statistical significance in the above indicators in the licorice-processed Tripterygium wilfordii group（P>0.05）. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of licorice-processed Tripterygium wilfordii in reducing hepatotoxicity may be related to the inhibition of activation of HMGB1 inflammatory pathway.