Objective To study the effects of icariin on the degree of degeneration of the intervertebral disc and the secretion of inflammatory factors in nucleus pulposus cells. Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, intervertebral disc degeneration group and low, medium and high concentration icariin group. The icariin group was intragastrically administered with different concentrations of icariin. The sham operation group and the intervertebral disc degeneration group were administered with the same amount of normal saline. Western blotting and real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR were used to detect the inflammatory factor interleukin ( IL) -1β, IL-6 and proteoglycan and collagen type II expression, 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging to determine the extent of disc degeneration. The nucleus pulposus cells of sham operation group and intervertebral disc degeneration group were cultured in vitro, divided into control group, intervertebral disc degeneration group and low, medium and high concentration icariin group. After 24 hours of intervention, the activity of nucleus pulposus cells was measured and IL-1β, IL was detected. -6, the expression of proteoglycan and collagen type II. Results In vivo study of 6W, compared with the sham operation group, the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 and the degree of degeneration of the intervertebral disc degeneration group were high (P<0.05). Compared with the disc degeneration group, the icariin group IL- The expression of 1β and IL-6 and the degree of degeneration were low (P<0.05). In vitro, compared with the control group, the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 in the intervertebral disc degeneration group was high (P<0.05), and the expression of proteoglycan and collagen type II was low (P<0.05). Compared with the disc degeneration group, the proliferative ability of icariin group was strong (P<0.05), IL-1β and IL-6 expression was low (P<0.05), proteoglycan and collagen type II expression. High (P<0.05). Conclusion Icariin may promote the proliferation of degenerative nucleus pulposus cells, down-regulate the expression of IL-1β and IL-6, and promote the expression of proteoglycan and collagen type II, thereby delaying the degeneration of intervertebral disc, which may become a treatment for intervertebral disc retreat. Changed drugs.