Abstract: This study aimed to assess the combined antibacterial effects of nisin and traditional Chinese medicine on avian pathogenic Escherichia coli （APEC）in vitro. The minimum inhibitory concentrations （MICs） of nisin and the aqueous extracts of Schisandra chinensis, Terminalia chebula, Fructus mume, Poncirus trifoliate and pine needle against APEC were separately determined by double dilution method. Furthermore, the combined MICs of nisin with the five single traditional Chinese medicine mentioned above against APEC were separately tested by checkerboard micro-dilution method. The results revealed that the single use of nisin exhibited no antibacterial effect on APEC in vitro; the MICs of Schisandra chinensis, Terminalia chebula and Fructus mume against APEC were 62.5 mg/mL, and those ofPoncirus trifoliate and pine needle were 125.0 mg/mL and 250.0 mg/mL respectively; no antibacterial effects were observed when nisin and pine needle were combinedly used; the combined MICs of nisin and Schisandra chinensis were 1.25 mg/mL （nisin） and 15.625 mg/mL （Schisandra chinensis ）, and those of nisin and Erminalia chebula, Poncirus trifoliate and Fructus mume were 2.5 mg/mL （nisin） and 31.25 mg/mL （the three single traditional Chinese medcine）. Taken together, we concluded that nisin was help to improve the antibacterial effects of Schisandra chinensis, Terminalia chebula, Fructus mume and Poncirus trifoliate on APEC in vitro.