Aim To study the effect of astragaloside on mRNA expression and protein production of inflammatory cytokines,including TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-10,in Viral Myocarditis in Mice with CVB3. Methods Fifty Balb/c mice were randomized into five groups (n=10):normal control group,given 0.1 mL of EMEM by intraperitoneal injection,were teated with saline 0.1 mL with gavage after 30 minites of injection for 1 week; viral myocarditis control group,inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.1 mL of 1×102 TCID50 CVB3 diluted in Eagle's minimal essential medium (EMEM) solution were given saline 0.1 ml with gavage after 30 minites of injection for 1 week; astragaloside low-dose intervention group,middle-dose intervention group and high-dose intervention group,inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.1 mL of 1×102 TCID50 CVB3 diluted in EMEM were treated with 1%,3%,9% astragaloside [0.07,0.2 and 0.6 mg/(kg·d)],respectively) 0.1 mL solution after 30 minites of injection,respectively with gavage for 1 week. After fourteen days,the mice were sacrificed and their hearts were taken and cut into two equal parts:one was used to determine mRNA expression of cardiac cytokines by RT-PCR and another was used to measure protein production of cytokines by Western blot. Results No expression of inflammatory cytokines mentioned above was found in normal control group. In viral myocarditis control group,both of these cytokines markedly increased (P<0. 01). Compared with viral myocarditis control group,the high-dose astragaloside group displayed significant reduction of mRNA expression and protein production of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6,and marked increase of IL-10 mRNA expression and protein production (P<0. 01). Conclusion Astragaloside markedly reduced pro inflammatory cytokines,and increased inflammation preventing cytokine. The mechanism needs to be elucidated.