Objective To investigate the liver protective effects of Siphonostegia chinensis decoction in rats with liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4).Methods A total of 120 male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: a blank control group, a model group, a Siphonostegia chinensis decoction group, a Salvia miltiorrhiza decoction group, a Rhizoma polygoni cuspidati decoction group and a polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules group, with 20 rats in each group. The model of liver fibrosis in rats was induced by subcutaneous injection with CCl4, except the blank group. Except rats in the blank control group and the model group, the rats in the other four groups were treated with Siphonostegia chinensis decoction, Salvia miltiorrhiza decoction, Rhizoma polygoni cuspidati decoction and polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules(10 ml/kg). The serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the fibrosis stage assessment were determined by histopathological examination.Results Compared with the model group, Siphonostegia chinensis decoction group significantly reduced the stage of liver fibrosis(P<0.01)and there were no obvious difference in liver fibrosis stage among the Salvia miltiorrhiza decoction group, Rhizoma polygoni cuspidati decoction group and polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules group, and the Siphonostegia chinensis decoction group(allP>0.05).Compared with liver fibrosis model group(368.06±24.90)U/L, the serum level of TNF-α in the Siphonostegia chinensis decoction group(336.61± 20.20)U/L significantly reduced(P<0.01), and there were no obvious difference among the Siphonostegia chinensis decoction group, the Salvia miltiorrhiza decoction group(337.81±21.04)U/L, the Rhizoma polygoni cuspidati decoction group(338.95±24.43)U/L and the polyene phosphatidylcholine capsules group(337.11± 23.64) U/L(allP>0.05).Conclusion Siphonostegia chinensis decoction has certain liver protective effect in rats with liver fibrosis induced by CCl4.