Abstract： Objective To investigate influences of effective components of paeornia and glycyrrhiza decoction (Shao Gan Duo Gan) on serum transaminase,liver pathology and liver gene expression profile in rats with subacute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomized into 6 groups:normal,model,positive control (biphenyl dimethylester 100 mg/kg),and 3 Shao Gan Duo Gan treatment groups (with doses of 88,264,528 mg/kg).Subacute liver injury was induced by carbon tetrachloride in the rats which were then treated by intragastric administration of different doses of Shao Gan Duo Gan.The effects of different treatments on serum ALT,AST and liver pathology were observed,and gene expression chips were used to observe changes in gene expression profile of the liver.Results Compared to model group,intragastric administration of high and intermediate doses of Shao Gan Duo Gan remarkably reduced the serum ALT in the injured rats [ (218.37±114.59,234.59±109.33) U/L vs (389.12±142.57) U/L,P＜0.05].The high dose of Shao Gan Duo Gan significantly decreased the histologic scores of the liver (2.42±0.52 vs 3.92±0.84,P＜0.05),improved degeneration and necrosis of the hepatocytes,and upregulated or down-regulated expressions of genes related to liver jnjury.Conclusion Shao Gan Duo Ganhas an obvious liver protection,probably because it can regulate expressions of multiple genes related to the liver injury.It may be a drug which has an effect on multiple targets.