AIM: To investigate the effect of Patrinia scabiosaefolia (PS) on the cholecystokinin (CCK) octapeptide- induced acute pancreatitis (AP) in rats.METHODS: Wistar rats weighing 240-260 g were divided into three groups: (1) Normal saline-treated group;(2) treatment with PS at 100 mg/kg group, in which PS was administered orally, followed by subcutaneous administration of 75 μg/kg CCK octapeptide three times after 1, 3 and 5 h, and this whole procedure was repeated for 5 d; (3) treatment with saline group,in which the protocols were the same as in treatment group with PS. We determined the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, the levels of pancreatic HSP60,HSP72 and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.Repeated CCK octapeptide treatment resulted in the typical laboratory findings of experimentally induced pancreatitis.RESULTS: PS reduced the pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, the levels of serum amylase and lipase,and inhibited expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the CCK octapeptide-induced AP. Furthermore, PS pretreatment increased the pancreatic levels of HSP60and HSP72.CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with PS has an antiinflammatory effect on CCK octapeptide-induced AP.