Objective: To compare the effects of the ethanol and water extract from houttuynia cordata composition on renal lesion in diabetic db/db mice. And the mechanism of Houttuynia cordata composition on preventing the development of diabetic nephropathy(DN)was also investigated. Method: Twenty-four db/m and db/db mouse with 8 weeks of age were divided into four groups according to their treatment ways:group db/m was treated with distilled water

group db/db with distilled water;gruop db/db with ethanol extracted Houttuynia cordata composition;group db/db with water extracted composition. The changes in body weight

24 h urinary albumin excretion

serum insulin

fasting plasma glucose were measured after mouse were treated for 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Result: After treatment with houttuynia cordata composition for 8 weeks

the plasma glucose

cholesterols and 24 h urinary albumin decreased. Compared with the untreated diabetic controls

both of ethanol and water extracted led to similar amelioration of hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia

as well as reduction of serum insulin level. Conclusion: The houttuynia cordate composition could improve diabetic nephropathy

and the mechanism might be linked to the reduction of the urinary albumin and improvement of insulin resistance.