Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Cortex Mori flavone extracts on nonalcoholic fatty liver in type 2 diabetic rats. Method: Total 24 male rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group

model group and Cortex Mori flavone extracts group (1.0 g · kg-1). The model of type 2 diabetes mellitus with nonalcoholic fatty liver was established by intraperitoneal injection of low dose streptozocin (STZ) combined with high fat diet. At the 16th week of gavage treatment

the fasting blood glucose (FBG)

total cholesterol (TC)

triglyceride(TG)

low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were observed and compared. Oil red O staining and HE staining were used to observe the pathological changes of the liver

and Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) mRNA. Result: After 16 weeks of intervention

the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG)

total cholesterol (TC)

triglyceride (TG)

and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) in model group were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05). After the application of Cortex Mori flavone extracts

the above biochemical indexes dropped significantly in Cortex Mori flavone extracts group. As compared with normal control group

the oral glucose tolerance test showed that the insulin sensitivity was decreased in the model group

and it was significantly improved after the application of Cortex Mori flavone extracts(P<0.05). The results of oil red O staining showed that a large amount of red dye was observed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in the model group

but no red dye was found in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes of the Cortex Mori flavone extracts group. HE staining showed that the liver cells in the model group had obvious vesicular steatosis

and the lipid droplets in the partial hepatocytes were fused into large fat vacuoles; meanwhile

infiltration of inflammatory cells was seen in the leaves. However

the structure of hepatocytes in the Cortex Mori flavone extracts group was normal. The expression levels of VEGF and PDGF mRNA in the liver of the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group

and the levels were significantly decreased after treatment with Cortex Mori flavone extracts(P<0.05). Conclusion: Cortex Mori flavone extracts have certain therapeutic effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver in type 2 diabetic rats

and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of VEGF and PDGF mRNA expression in the liver.