Objective To investigate the effects of shionone on Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression and immune responses in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic rats. Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (six rats per group): control, model, shionone and dexamethasone. The behavioral changes of young mice were observed, as was their lung histopathology after hematoxylin and eosin staining. mRNA expression of TLRs in plasma was detected by qPCR, and serum expression levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin ( IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-13 were detected by ELISA. Results Rats in the model group were short of breath, sneezed,displayed a purple nose and mouth, secreted mucus and were hyperactive and irritable. In addition, these rats exhibited bronchial mucosa hyperemia edema, bronchial epithelial cell death, and large numbers of infiltrating inflammatory cells in the airway and lung tissue. After treatment with shionone and dexamethasone, young mice breathed more easily and exhibited decreased mucus secretion and irritability; however, aggression was increased in the dexamethasone group. The degree of hyperemia and edema of bronchial mucosa was relieved, and numbers of inflammatory cells around the airway and lung tissue were reduced. Compared with the model group, mRNA expression levels of TLR1, TLR9 and TLR10 in shionone and dexamethasone groups were significantly increased (P<0. 01), whereas mRNA expression levels of TLR2 ~ TLR8 were significantly decreased (P<0. 01). Levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-13 were significantly decreased (P<0. 01). Conclusions Shionone can improve the immune response of OVA-induced SD rats and alter the expression of TLRs, laying the foundation for further study of the mechanism of shionone on TLR signaling pathways.