AIM:Liver fibrosis is a common pathological process ofchronic liver diseases.Activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) is the key issue in the occurrence of liver fibrosis.Inthis study,we observed the inhibitory action of rat serumcontaining Biejiajian oral liquid (BOL),a decoction of turtleshell,on proliferation of rat HSCs,and to explore the anti-hepatofibrotic mechanisms of BOL.METHODS:A rat model of hepatic fibrosis was induced bysubcutaneous injection of CCl_4.Serum containing low,medium and high dosages of BOL was prepared respectively.Normal and fibrotic HSCs were isolated and cultured.Theeffect of sera containing BOL on proliferation of HSCs wasdetermined by ~3H-TdR incorporation.RESULTS:The inhibitory rate of normal rat HSC proliferationcaused by 100 mL/mL sera containing medium and highdosages of BOL showed a remarkable difference as comparedwith that caused by colchicine (medium dosage group:34.56±4.21% vs29.12±2.85%,P<0.01;high dosage group:37.82±1.32% vs29.12±2.85%,P<0.01).The inhibitory rateof fibrotic rat HSC proliferation caused by 100 mL/L serumcontaining medium and high dosages of BOL showed aremarkable difference as compared with that caused by colchicine(medium dosage group:51.31±3.14% vs 38.32±2.65%,P<0.01;high dosage group:60.15±5.36% vs38.32±2.65%,P<0.01).The inhibitory rate of normal rat HSC proliferationcaused by 100 mL/L and 200 mL/L sera containing a mediumdosage of BOL showed a significant difference as comparedwith that caused by 50 mL/L (100 mL/L group:69.02±9.96%vs 50.82±9.28%,P<0.05;200 mL/L group:81.78±8.92%vs 50.82±9.28%,P<0.01).The inhibitory rate of fibrotic rat HSCproliferation caused by 100 mL/L and 200 mL/L sera containinga medium dosage of BOL showed a significant difference ascompared with that caused by 50 mL/L (100 mL/L group:72.19±10.96% vs 61.38±7.16%,P<0.05;200 mL/L group:87.16±8.54% vs 61.38±7.16%,P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Rat serum containing BOL can inhibitproliferation of rat HSCs,and the inhibition depends on thedosage and concentration of BOL.The inhibitory effect on HSC proliferation is one of the main anti-hepatofibroticmechanisms of BOL. AIM: Liver fibrosis is a common pathological process of chronic liver disease. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the key issue in the occurrence of liver fibrosis .nthis study, we observed the inhibitory action of rat serum conditioning Biejiajian oral liquid (BOL), a decoction of turtleshell, on proliferation of rat HSCs, and to explore the anti-hepatofibrotic mechanisms of BOL. METHODS: A rat model of hepatic fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl_4.Serum containing low, medium and high dosages of BOL was prepared . Normal and fibrotic HSCs were isolated and cultured. The effect of sera containing BOL on proliferation of HSCs was determined by ~ 3H-TdR incorporation. RESULTS: The inhibitory rate of normal rat HSC proliferation eliminated by 100 mL / mL sera containing medium and high dosages of BOL showed a remarkable difference as compared with that caused by colchicine (medium dosage group: 34.56 ± 4.21% vs 29.12 ± 2.85%, P <0.01; high dosage group: 37.82 ± 1.32% vs 29.12 ± 2.85%, P < 0.01). The inhibitory rate of fibrotic rat HSC proliferation caused by 100 mL / L serum containing medium and high dosages of BOL was marked difference difference compared to that caused by colchicine (medium dosage group: 51.31 ± 3.14% vs 38.32 ± 2.65%, P < 0.01; high dosage group: 60.15 ± 5.36% vs38.32 ± 2.65%, P <0.01). The inhibitory rate of normal rat HSC proliferationcaused by 100 mL / L and 200 mL / L sera containing a medium dose of BOL showed a significant difference (100 mL / L group: 69.02 ± 9.96% vs 50.82 ± 9.28%, P <0.05; 200 mL / L group: 81.78 ± 8.92% vs 50.82 ± 9.28%, P <0.01) The inhibitory rate of fibrotic rat HSC proteolysis caused by 100 mL / L and 200 mL / L sera containing a medium dosage of BOL showed a significant difference ascompared with that caused by 50 mL / L (100 mL / L group: 72.19 ± 10.96% vs 61.38 ± 7.16%, P <0.05; 200 mL / L group: 87.16 ± 8.54% vs 61.38 ± 7.16%, P <0.01) .CONCLUSION: Rat serum containing BOL can inhibitproliferation of rat HSCs, on thedosage and concentration of BOL.The inhibitory effect on HSC proliferation is one of the main anti-hepatofibrotic mechanisms of BOL.