Abstract: OBJECTIVE To study the effects of serum containing Duhuo Jisheng decoction on the phenotypic stability of chondrocytes in vitro, and on the expression of SOX6, cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. METHODS Cartilage caps were extracted from the femoral head of rats, and chondrocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro. The culture system were serum containing Duhuo Jisheng decoction (different doses of high, medium and low concentrations) and serum containing normal saline as control. The changes of collagen type Ⅱ and SOX6 expression distribution in chondrocytes were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The changes of SOX6, Collagen Ⅱ, Aggrecan, IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-α were detected by Western blot and ELISA. RESULTS The serum containing Duhuo Jisheng decoction of different doses could promote the proliferation of chondrocytes in vitro, and increase the expression of collagen Ⅱ to stabilize its cartilage phenotype. The medium does showed most significant (P<0.01). Compared with the normal control group, the serum containing Duhuo Jisheng decoction could increase the fraction of SOX6 in the nucleus. It also inhibited the expression levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the medium. CONCLUSION The serum containing Duhuo Jisheng decoction can upregulate the expression of SOX6 and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors in vitro, so as to stabilize the phenotype of chondrocytes.