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Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which widely exists in soil and crops, is the most toxic aflatoxin and a carcinogen to humans and animals. The liver is the main organ that processes AFB1 and other mycotoxins and is also the main target of AFB1 toxicity. Taurine is known to exhibit a variety of physiological and pharmacological functions. In the present study, taurine was administered to detect the protective effect and mechanism of taurine in AFB1-induced liver injury in rats. The results showed that taurine inhibited the increase in hepatic injury indices, hepatic apoptosis and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) contents while significantly enhanced the hepatic activities of antioxidant enzymes and mitochondrial function-related indices in AFB1-poisoned rats. Meanwhile, the expression levels of key factors in the Nrf2 signalling pathway were upregulated while the expression levels of key proteins in the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway were downregulated after taurine administration. The results showed that taurine can reverse AFB1-induced liver injury and abnormal apoptosis through activation of the Nrf2 signalling pathway and its downstream antioxidant enzymes, which further protects mitochondria from oxidative stress and the subsequent apoptotic pathway. [Display omitted] • Taurine can protect the liver from injury and abnormal apoptosis induced by aflatoxin B1. • Taurine can improve antioxidant capacity of rats treated with aflatoxin B1. • Taurine can protect the mitochondria in the liver of rats treated with aflatoxin B1. • Taurine can regulate mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of rats treated with aflatoxin B1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]