Abstract： Objective To investigate the effects of xuefuzhuyu injection on the expressions of the nuclear factor-кB(NF-кB)and inhibitor-кBα(1-кBα)in rat brain tissue after traumatic brain injury.Methods Eighty SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operative(n=20), model(n=20),hexadecadrol-treated(n=120)and xuefuzhuyu-treated(n=20)groups.Traumatic brain injury models were induced by free-fall.Sham-operative and model groups received intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mL/(kg·d)normal saline;dexamethasone-treated group and xuefuzhuyu-treated group received intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mg/(kg·d)dexamethasone and 4 mL/(kg·d)xuefuzhuyu injection immediately after the successful model inducement,respectively, and then, heir brain tissue samples were obtained at 6,24,48 and 96 h. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the protein expressions of NF-кB P65 and I-кBα in the traumatic brain tissue,and HE staining was performed to observe the brain structure.Results Increased protein expression of NF-кB P65 and decreased protein expression of I-кBα in the model group were found as compared to those in the sham-operative group at all time points(P<0.05);dexamethasone-treated and xuefuzhuyu-treated groups showed significantly lower protein expression of NF-кB and higher protein expression of I-кBα than the model group at all time points(P<0.05)and the effect of xuefuzhuyu injection was better than that of dexamethasone.The expressions of NF-кB and I-кBα were negatively correlated in the model group(r=-0.876.P=0.000). Conclusion Secondary injury caused by traumatic brain injury can be relieved by inhibiting the activation of NF-кB and increasing the expression of I-кBα, which are exactly the effects of xuefuzhuyu injection and dexamethasone,and xuefuzhuyu injection works better than dexamethasone.