Objective:To observe the effect of Astragalus injection on urinary albumin and cytokines in patients with early diabetic nephropathy.To evaluate the efficacy and possible mechanisms in patients with early diabetic nephropathy.Method:Seventy-seven patients with early diabetic nephropathy were randomly divided into two groups: the control group（38 cases） was given Benazepril;Astragalus group（39 cases） was given Benazepril and Astragalus injection.These patients of two groups were treated for 30 days.Indicator of urinary microalbumin

β2-microglobulin（β2-MC）

urinary albumin excretion rate（UAER） and serum β2-MC

interleukin-6（IL-6）

tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）

vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）

transforming growth factor β1（TGF-β1） were observed before and after treatment.Result: Before the treatment

Indicator of urinary microalbumin

urinary albumin excretion rate

β2-microglobulin and serum β2-microglobulin

interleukin-6

tumor necrosis factor-α

vascular endothelial growth factor

transforming growth factor β1 were significantly higher than the health group（all P<0.01）

there were no significant difference in these indicators between two groups（all P>0.05）

it has comparability.After 30 days

there indicators had significantly improved compared with before treatment in patients of two groups（P<0.05 or P<0.01）

but patients in Astragalus group improved more significantly（P<0.05 or P<0.01）;Application Astragalus injection were no adverse reactions.Conclusion: It was safe and effective that Astragalus injection in the treatment of patients with early diabetic nephropathy

reduce the urinary mAlb

UAER

β2-MG and serum β2-MG significantly

inhibit the expression of IL-6

TNF-α

VEGF

TGF-β1 may be one of the mechanism of the protective effect of kidney.