Abstract: Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid were shown to prevent the development of experimental cirrhosis, Whereas crude saikosides was inactive. In order to further understand the mechanism of action,' the following experiments were carried out in rats.In CCL4 intoxicated rats, the elevation of SGPT was impeded significantly by glycyrrhizin but not by the other two drugs. Glycyrrhizin and crude saikosides were found to be able to decrease the accumulation of triglyceride in the liver. Histopathological investigation reveaied that lesions of the liver of glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid treated rats were less severe than those of CCL4 controls. Histochemical observation indicate that the liver glygogenin the glycyrrhizin treated rats was increased significantly. The number of AFP positive rats of glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid treated groups was also higher than that of the control group.All the three drugs did not exert any effect on collagenolytic activity and collagen resorption.