Objective      To determine the protective effect of Schisandrin B (Sch B) against Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced liver injury in mice and the roles of heat shock protein (HSP) 27/70 in the hepatic protection.       Methods      Seventy-two four-week-old male ICR mice were divided into 6 groups (n=12 for each group)

that is

control group

model group

Sch B+Con A group

Sch B+Con A+Quercetin group

Con A+Quercetin group and Quercetin group. Sch B (200 mg/kg) and the heat shock protein inhibitor

Quercetin (200 mg/kg) were administered intragastrically

alone or at the same time for the corresponding mice. Mouse model of liver injury was induced by intravenous injection of 25 mg/kg Con A in 1 h after last intra gastrical administration. In 6 h after Con A injection

all mice were sacrificed

and their blood samples and liver tissues were collected. The expression of HSP27/70 at protein and mRNA levels in the liver was detected by Western blotting and real-time PCR

respectively. Hepatic histopathology was observed under light microscopy after HE staining. Serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT）and aspartate aminotransferase（AST）activity were determined by ELISA.       Results      Sch B resulted in a significantly increased expression of hepatic HSP27/70 at protein and mRNA levels in Con A-induced liver injury mice

and attenuated the liver injury

with pathological observation of ameliorated hepatic necrosis and reduced activity of ALT and AST. However

Quercetin suppressed all the above effects of Sch B. But there was no significant difference in the above indexes between the control and Quercetin group.       Conclusion      Sch B protects mice against Con A-induced liver injury through inducing hepatic HSP27/70 expression.