Aim To investigate the influence of gly-cyrrhizic acid( GA) on cell proliferation and cell cycle and secretion of extracellular matrix ( ECM) , the level of fibronection ( FN) , type Ⅳ collagen ( C-Ⅳ) in the rats′ glomerular mesangial cells ( HBZY-1 ) cultured with advanced glycation endproducts ( AGEs ) . Meth-ods HBZY-1 were incubated in culture medium con-taining AGEs in the presence of GA and treated for 48 h. At the same time, the normal and control groups were established. Methylthiazoletetrazolium ( MTT) as-say was used to measure cell proliferation;cell cycle a-nalysis was performed using a flow cytometry; FN and C-Ⅳwere analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) . Results Cell counts increased markedly in AGEs group. Cell cycle analysis showed that cell percentage of S phase increased, G1 reduced and PI increased from 35. 01% ± 4. 21% to 44. 93%± 0. 25% ( P <0. 05 ) . FN and C-Ⅳ secretion in-creased ( P <0. 05 ) . Whereas GA was added, cell counts decreased, and the percentage of S phase also decreased and G1 increased, PI decreased from 44. 93% ± 0. 25% to 42. 16% ± 1. 04% ( P<0. 05 ) . In addition, the secretion of FN and C-Ⅳ decreased ( P<0. 05 ) . Conclusion GA could prevent AGEs-induced HBZY-1 . GA may protect HBZY-1 from in-hibiting the abnormal cell proliferation, changing the cell cycle. GA can reduce the synthesis of FN and C-Ⅳ.