To investigate the effect of anthocyanins in Lycium ruthenicum from Chaidamu on the antioxidative and inflammatory injury of human skin fibroblasts (HSFs cells) after UVB radiation. Methods HSFs cells cultured in vitro were randomly divided into 5 groups by random number table method: blank control group (no treatment), UVB irradiation group (30mJ/cm2 irradiation for 30 minutes), UVB+low-dose anthocyanin group (0. 1 mg/mL+30 mJ/cm2 irradiation for 30 minutes), UVB+medium-dose anthocyanin group (0. 5 mg/mL+30 mJ/cm 2 irradiation for 30 minutes), UVB+high-dose anthocyanin group (1 mg/mL+30 mJ/cm2 irradiation for 30 minutes). 24 hours before UVB radiation, the anthocyanins in Lycium ruthenicum from Chaidamu were added into the culture medium, and cells were collected after 20 hours radiation. The morphology of cells was observed by inverted microscope, cell death was observed by Trypan Blue. Cell proliferation activity was detected by MTT. SOD activity, CAT activity, GSH-Px content and MDA content was tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected and compared by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Trypan Blue showed that the number of blue staining of HSFs cells increased and floating cell fragments appeared in UVB radiation group compared with blank control group. Compared with UVB radiation group, the number of blue staining of HSFs cells and floating cell fragments decreased in UVB + low, medium and high dose anthocyanin group. The expression levels of MDA, IL-1 and IL-6 in UVB radiation group were significantly higher than those in blank control group (P＜0.05). The cell proliferation rate, SOD activity, CAT activity, GSH-P content decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Compared with UVB radiation group, the expression levels of IL-1, IL-6 and MDA in cell supernatant decreased significantly (P＜0.05). The cell proliferation rate, SOD activity, CAT activity, GSH-P content increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusion The anthocyanins in Lycium ruthenicum from Chaidamu can change the morphological changes of HSFs after UVB radiation by improving the ability of antioxidant stress and reducing the inflammatory damage of cells, so as to reduce the skin damage caused by ultraviolet radiation