Objective  This observation was designed to explore the protective effect of rhubarb on inflammation response induced by intestinal ischemia  reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Methods  All rats were randomly divided into control, gut I/R and treated group.In every group,the gut O  -·    2  activity, blood thromboxane A  2 (TXA  2) and endotoxin level were detected and the survival rate,organ functions were observed.Results  Gut I/R increased the gut O  -·    2  activity and induced endotoxemia and bacterimia.Pretreatment with rhubarb could attenuate bacterial and endotoxic translocation,lower the level of blood TXA  2 and abate the vital organs dysfunction. The 24?h survival rate increased by 40%.Conclusion  Rhubarb abates the gut barrier fai~lure induced by gut I/R and protects organs from dysfunction induced by inflammation response.