We hypothesized that shikonin could reduce the level of IL-1β upregulated in ConA-induced hepatitis and ameliorate liver injury, as measured by serum hepatic enzymes, proinflammatory cytokines, and histological changes, which may be partly associated with the C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/p-JNK pathway. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is hepatitis A virus infection.