Objective To investigate the effects of Sangju Qingjie Decoction on the ventilator-induced lung injury in rats.Methods Thirty-six healthy male SD rats of both sexes,weighing 300-350 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups(n =12 each):control group(group C); mechanical ventilation group(group V)and Sangju Qingjie Decoction group(group SJ).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 3％ urethane 1.4 g/kg and tracheostomized.The femoral artery and vein were cannulated for blood sampling and drug administration.The animals were mechanically ventilated for 2.5 h(VT =40 ml/kg,RR 40 bpm,I:E =1:1,FiO2 21％).Ingroup SJ,Sangju Qingjie Decoction 300 g was injected into the stomach through a gastric tube once a day for 10 consecutive days,and mechanical ventilation was performed 2 h after the last injection.While in groups V and C,the equal volume of normal saline was given instead of Sangju Qingjie Decoction.Arterial blood samples were collected before ventilation,at the end of ventilation,and at 30 min after ventilation(T0-2)for blood gas analysis.Respiratory index(RI)and oxygenation index(OI)were calculated.The animals were then sacrificed and the lungs were removed for microscopic examination and determination of the content of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-10 and W/D lung weight ratio.Results Compared with group C,RI at T1,2,the content of TNF-o,IL-6 and IL-10 and W/D ratio were significantly increased,and OI was significantly decreased at T1.2 in groups V and SJ(P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group V,RI at T1,2,the content of TNF-α and IL-6 and W/D ratio were significantly decreased,and OI at T1,2 and the content of IL-10 were significantly increased in group SJ(P ＜ 0.05).The pathological damage was attenuated in group SJ compared with group V.Conclusion Sangju Qingjie Decoction can attenuate the ventilator-induced lung injury through inhibition of inflammatory response in rats.