Objective: To observe the effect of Shihu compound(SC)on expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in renal tissues of db/db diabetic mice. Method: The 11-12 week old male db/db mice

were randomly divided into model group

glipizide treatment group

low and high dose SC groups

and db/m normal control group according to fasting blood glucose and body mass. Intragastric administration was given for 8 weeks. Body weight and 24 hours urinary protein quantitation in mice were detected; the pathological changes of renal tissues were observed by optical microscope. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and kidney tissue of mice; immunohistochemical staining and Western bolt were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in renal tissue. Result: SC can significantly reduce the body weight (P<0.05

P<0.01) and 24 h urinary protein (P<0.05

P<0.01) in db/db mice. Hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining results showed that the volume of glomerulus was increased

mesangial matrix was increased

mesangial area was widened and vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells was obvious in model group. As compared with the model group

the glomerular basement membrane was thinner

the proliferation of mesangial cells was decreased

the extracellular matrix was decreased

and the renal tubule structure was basically recovered to a normal condition. The results of immunohistochemistry

ELISA and Western bolt showed that the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the model group were increased significantly as compared with the normal group (P<0.01); as compared with the model group

the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in each treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05

P<0.01)

but still higher than those in the normal group. Conclusion: SC can alleviate the inflammatory reaction in kidney tissues and improve the renal damage in db/db mice by decreasing the expression of TNF-α and IL-6

thereby slowing down the progress of diabetic nephropathy.