Abstract: AIMTo determine the effect of salidroside on proliferation, collagen mRNA transcription, degradation of IκB and NF-κB in cultured rat HSC induced by acetaldehyde. METHODSThe proliferation of HSC was determined by MTT assay. The transcription of collagen mRNA was determined by immunocytochemistry and the degradation of IκB was determined by in situ hybridization. NF-κB activity was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTSAfter treatment with acetaldehyde, the cell proliferation, the transcription of α1 (I) collagen mRNA and the activity of NF-κB in HSC increased, while the expression of IκB decreased. The effects of acetaldehyde were blocked by salidroside at different concentrations. CONCLUSIONSalidroside can suppress the activation of HSC induced by acetaldehyde, control the proliferation and collagen mRNA transcription, restrain NF-κB activation and maintain the activity of IκB in HSC.