Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe the changes of caspase-3 in liver cells of mice with hepatitis virus infection,and to explore the intervening effect and mechanism of Tibetan Artemisiae Capillaries(TAC)on caspase-3.MethodsTwentyfour mice were randomly divided into four groups:control group,model group,virazole group,and TAC group.Then serum contents of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and asparate aminotransferase(AST)were detected with Lai's method and pathological changes of the liver were observed with light microscope after haematoxylin eosin(HE)staining.The activity of caspase-3 was detected by microplate reader.The contents of factor associated suicide(Fas)and caspase-3 mRNA were detected by quantitative PCR.Resultscompared with the control group,all of the indicators of the model group increased. The content of ALT was 225.349±9.904 and that of AST was 180.823±17.34.The activity of caspase-3 was 0.371± 0.051.The contents of Fas and caspase-3 mRNA were 1.93±0.08 and 0.867±0.102.The pathological observation revealed obvious damage of the liver.After the treatment of TAC,the contents of ALT(181.906±20.164),AST(139.824 ±12.153),Fas(1.673±0.047),and caspase-3 mRNA(0.518±0.103)showed obvious decrease,and the same as the activity of caspase-3(0.202±0.029).The pathologic damage of the TAC group was alleviated compared with that of the model one.ConclusionThe apoptosis induced by Fas/FasL may be one of the mechanism of the hepatitis caused by mouse hepatitis virus-A59(MHV-A₅₉).Tibetan Artemisiae Capillaries can suppress the apoptosis and weaken the damage of the liver.