Objective: This research was aimed at observing the effect of the Danqi Mixture on the expression of Akt1 in kidney tissue of diabetic rats and exploring it's mechanism of renal protection. Method: Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal group (A)

diabetic model group (B)

diabetic group treated with Danqi (C) and Enalapril group (D) randomly. Diabetic rat model was induced using injection of 50 mg·kg-1 streptozotocin(STZ). Rats of each group were killed at the 12th week. Biochemistry assay was employed to assess the urine protein and serum creatinine. The protein expressions of Akt1

E-cadherin and fibronection(FN) in renal tissue were measured using immunohistochemistry

meanwhile α-smooth actin(α-SMA) protein expression level was detected by Western blot. The mRNA level of Akt1 in renal cortex was examined by Reverse Transcriptose Polymerase Chain Reaction(RT-PCR). Result: Danqi mixture and enalapril down-regulated mRNA and protein expression of Akt1

and decreased protein expressions of α-SMA and FN (P<0.01)

along with significantly increased level of E-cadherin protein in renal tissue diabetic rats (P<0.01). Comparing to the normal group

the levels of proteinuria

serum creatinine in Danqi Mixture group were remarkably decreased as well (P<0.05). Conclusion: Danqi Mixture could inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) and improve the injury of diabetic kidney

which might associate with the down-regulation of Akt1 mRNA and protein expression.