OBJECTIVE: To probe into the protective effect of shikonin on mice infected by brucella based on reactive oxygen species（ ROS）/thioredoxin interacting protein（ TXNIP）. METHODS: BALB/C mice were randomly divided into five groups

including control group

model group

shikonin group（ 50 mg/kg）

N-acetylcysteine（ NAC）group（ 20 mg/kg of ROS inhibitor NAC） and paclitaxel + NAC group（ 50 mg/kg of paclitaxel

20 mg/kg of ROS inhibitor NAC）. Except for the control group

the mouse infection model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of Brucella liquid in the rest groups. After corresponding drug treatment

the liver and spleen indicators of mice in each group were measured

the bacterial load in peritoneal effusion and spleen were detected

levels of serum interferon γ（ IFN-γ）

interleukin 6（ IL-6）

tumor necrosis factor α（ TNF-α）

immunoglobulin G（ IgG） and immunoglobulin M（ IgM） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

the ROS level in blood was detected by ROS assay kit

and the expression of TXNIP in blood was detected by protein immunoblotting. RESULTS: Compared with the control group

the liver indicator

spleen indicator

bacterial load in peritoneal effusion and spleen

serum IFN-γ

serum IL-6

serum TNF-α

IgG and IgM levels

ROS level and expression level of TXNIP protein of mice in the model group were significantly higher

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）. Compared with the model group

the liver indicator

spleen indicator

bacterial load in peritoneal effusion and spleen

serum IFN-γ

serum IL-6

serum TNF-α

IgG and IgM levels

ROS level and expression level of TXNIP protein of mice in the shikonin group

NAC group and paclitaxel + NAC group were significantly lower

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）.Compared with shikonin group and NAC group

the above indicators in paclitaxel + NAC group were significantly lower

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）. CONCLUSIONS: Shikonin can reduce the bacterial load of Brucella in infected mice

alleviate immune inflammatory response

and play a protective role for mice.