Objective: To study the effects of total flavonoe of Epimedium(TFE)from Epimedium acuminatum and E. Leptorrhizum grown in Guizhou on insulin resistance (IR)-related factors in mice induced by alloxan(ALX). Method: Hundred male mice were divided into normal group and model group. The mice in model group were fed with high-fat diet for 6 weeks

then single intraperitoneal injection of 2% ALX solution (200 mg·kg-1) was made to establish type 2 diabetes models.The modeling mice were randomly divided into 6 groups with 10 in each group

including metformin group(150 mg·kg-1)

E.acuminatum TFE group(100

50 mg·kg-1)

E.leptorrhizum TFE group(100

50 mg·kg-1)

respectively

once a day for 14 days. After 14 days

the animals were fasted for 12 hours

and killed. Then the level of serum insulin (FINS) and C peptide was determined.The blood sugar (FBG) and BG after injection of ins 40 min were detected. Insulin tolerance (ITT)

insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and pancreatic index were calculated. HE staining was used to observe the morphologic changes of pancreas in mice. Result: Compared with the normal group

blood sugar of the model group increased significantly(P<0.01)

C-peptide and FINS significantly increased(P<0.05)

pancreatic tissue injury was serious(P<0.01)

the pancreas index decreased significantly(P<0.01). Compared with model group

two TFE from E. acuminatum all obviously improved ITT(P<0.05)

pancreatic index(P<0.05)

reduced C-peptide

FINS and HOMA-IR(P<0.05) and obviously alleviated pancreatic tissue injury(P<0.05) in mice induced by ALX. TFE from E. acuminatum had more obvious effect(P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: Two kinds of TFE from E. acuminatum have certain effect on the type 2 diabetes mice induced by ALX

and can increase insulin sensitivity

improve IR-related factors on the type 2 diabetes mice

and have a good protective effect on the pancreatic tissue injured. Especially

TFE from E.acuminatum has obvious effect. Epimedium's active ingredient on diabetes may has a greater relationship with icariin.