Objective To compare the protective effects of Wuling capsule on CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis rats before and after process optimization. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into 9 groups: control group, model group, positive control group (silymarin) and low (0.25 g/kg)-, medium (0.5 g/kg)- and high (1.0 g/kg)-dose of Wuling capsule new process and original process groups, with 10 rats in each group. The rat model with liver fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄ solution (dissolved in olive oil, at a dosage of 2 mL/kg), twice a week for 8 weeks except control group. The rats in the treatment groups were administered by gavage at the second week for 6 consecutive weeks. At the end of the experiment, the wet weights of the rat liver and spleen were examined and the viscera indexes were calculated. Serum biochemical indexes (alanine aminotransferase ［ALT］, aspartate aminotransferase ［AST］, alkaline phosphatase ［ALP］, total bile acid ［TBA］, and albumin ［ALB］) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were detected. Hematolyxin-eosin staining and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological structure and fibrosis degree of liver tissues. The level of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in rat liver tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA relative expression levels of collagen (COL) Ⅰ, COL Ⅲ, COL Ⅳ and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in the liver were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results Both the new and original process groups of Wuling capsule improved the liver pathological structure of CCL4-induced hepatic fibrosis rats and reduced the degree of hepatic fibrosis. Compared with the model group, the contents of ALT, AST, ALP and TBA in serum were significantly decreased (P＜0.05); serum ALB content and SOD activity were significantly increased (P＜0.05); the α-SMA positive area ratio in liver tissues decreased (P＜0.05); the contents of serum IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly decreased (P＜0.05); and the mRNA expression levels of COL Ⅰ, COL Ⅲ, COL Ⅳ and NF-κB in liver tissues were significantly down-regulated (P＜0.05). The experimental results of TBA, α-SMA and COL Ⅲ in the new process group were significantly better than those in the original process group. Conclusion Both the new technology and original technology of Wuling capsule have protective effects on CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats, but some indexes of the new technology are better than those of the original technology group.