Curcumin,a major active principle of Curcuma longa,has been applied in the effective management of stress and depression-related disorders in China.In the present study,we analysed the effects of curcumin on ameliorating the hepatic injury in mice exposed to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS),and investigated the possible mechanism of the effects.The model successfully simulated the depressive status by elevating the duration of immobility time in the forced swimming test,as well as reducing the activity (number of squares crossed and rearings) in an open field.The mice were subjected to the exposure to stressor once a day for 5 consecutive weeks,with curcumin administered via gavage at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg once a day from the 3rd week.Our results exhibited that the hepatic indices were sensitive to UCMS.However,cureumin significantly decreased the oxidative levels in the liver,as well as relieved the damage of hepatic function.In addition,UCMS resulted in the elevated tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the liver,while administration of curcumin reversed the trend.The curcumin study might be of scientific implications for the treatment of the depression-induced hepatic impairments.