Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Qiwei Tongbi(QWTB) oral liquid on the rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA)． METHODS The mixture of Freund's complete adjuvant and type Ⅱ collagen was injected into the right toe and tail root with subcutaneous multipoint method to copy the CIA rat model. Successful model rats were randomly divided into model group， QWTB 12.20， 6.10， 3.05g/kg groups and dexamethasone acetate 0.893mg/kg group， respectively. Saline solution was injected into control group rats (n=10). After 21d， rheumatoid arthritis was stimulated by the tail root subcutaneous injection， and the rats were executed after 14d. Rats toes volume， the secondary lesion， inflammation score， the level of TNF-α， IL-1α and IL-17， and the protein expression of NF-κB， RANK and RANKL in the synovium of joint were examined to determine the effect of QWTB on CIA rats. RESULTS Three doses of QWTB inhibited the swelling degree of the arthritis in rats toes， reduced the secondary lesion， and decreased the inflammation score and the levels of inflammatory cytokines. High dose group and middle dose group showed significant differences， compared with model group (P<0.05， P<0.01）. CONCLUSION QWTB can decrease the levels of inflammatory cytokines to alleviate joint injury of CIA rats.