Objective: To observe the effects of Danzhi Jiangtang capsules on impaired endothelial function in rats models with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signal pathways. Method: High fat and high glucose diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) were used to establish T2DM rat models. One hundred and four rats were randomly divided into 7 groups:normal group

model group

Danzhi Jiangtang capsule high

medium

low dose groups (1.08

0.72

0.54 g·kg-1·d-1)

pioglitazone group (10 mg·kg-1·d-1)

integrated Danzhi and pioglitazone group (1.08 g·kg-1·d-1+10 mg·kg-1·d-1). After successful modeling

the diabetic model rats were respectively ig given with corresponding dose of medicines

once a day. After 8 weeks of treatment

blood samples and abdominal aorta were collected to do correlation detection after rats anesthesia

and their mechanism of action was analyzed. Result: After 8 weeks of treatment

compared with the normal group

p-p38 mitogen activated protein kinase(p-p38MAPK)

mitogen activated protein kinase kinasse3/6(MKK3/6)

cAMP response element-bingding protein(CREB1)

cyclooxygenase2(COX-2)

and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) protein expression levels were increased in model group;mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1(MKP-1) protein expression level was reduced in the model group. Compared with the model group

p-p38MAPK

MEK3/6

CREB1

COX-2

and ICAM-1 protein expression levels were reduced

and MKP-1 protein expression levels were increased in treatment groups (P<0.05

P<0.01). The abdominal aorta immunohistochemistry showed that compared with the model group

the expression level of p38MAPK was significantly decreased in the treatment groups. Conclusion: Danzhi Jiangtang capsule can regulate the expression level of vascular p38MAPK protein in T2DM rat models and may thus improve the impaired endothelial function in rats.