ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of Shenfu injection on liver injury in rats with hind limb ischemia-reperfusion and its mechanism. MethodsSixty-four male rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, ischemia-reperfusion group, Shenfu group〔Shenfu injection 7.5 mL/kg injection of peritoneal(ip), given 10 min before ischemia-reperfusion〕, Shenfu+Znpp group(Shenfu injection 7.5 mL/kg+Znpp 5 mg/kg ip, given 10 min before ischemia-reperfusion), 16 rats in each group. The rat model of hind limb ischemia-reperfusion injury was reproduced by occluding the hind limb artery of the rats for 3 h and subsequent reperfusing for 4 h. The liver tissues were gathered for malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)determination. The expression of hemeoxygenase 1(HO-1)protein in the liver tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The pathological changes of liver were observed under the light microscope. The changes of serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase(GPT)and glutamine oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT)were observed respectively. Results①Compared with the sham operation group, the contents of MDA, GPT, GOT, and the expression of HO-1 protein were markedly increased in the ischemia-reperfusion group, Shenfu group, and Shenfu+Znpp group(P < 0.05), the activities of SOD were markedly decreased in the ischemia-reperfusion group and Shenfu+Znpp group(P < 0.05).②Compared with the ischemia-reperfusion group, the contents of MDA, serum GPT, GOT, and the expression of HO-1 protein were markedly decreased, the activity of SOD was markedly increased in the Shenfu group(P < 0.05).③Compared with the Shenfu group, the contents of MDA, GPT, GOT were markedly increased, the activity of SOD was markedly decreased in the Shenfu+Znpp group(P < 0.05). Unde ther light microscope, the pathological changes induced by ischemia-reperfusion were significantly attenuated by the Shenfu injection in the Shenfu group and were reversed by the Znpp in the Shenfu+Znpp group. ConclusionShenfu injection inhibits liver tissue injury during hind limb ischemia-reperfusion, this protective effect might be partly through induction of HO-1.