OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Wuhuang Tangkangling on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in serum of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODOne hundred cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were randomly divided into two groups. The control group was treated with pioglitazone (15 mg x d(-1)) orally once a day in the morning, combined with insulin subcutaneous injection based on blood glucose level. The treatment group was treated with decoction of Wuhuang Tangkang Ling daily, 8 weeks as a course. TNF-alpha, IL-6, hs-CRP, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and postprandial blood glucose (PBG) were tested for two groups of patients before and after the treatment And other 50 healthy cases were tested for comparison.

RESULTBefore treatment, the level of cytokine, FBG and PBG in the serum of patients with T2DM were significantly higher than healthy cases (P < 0.01). In treatment group, difference between before and after the treatment had statistical significance (P < 0.01); after treatment, difference between treatment group and control group had statistical significance (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWuhuang Tangkangling could significantly decrease the level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, hs-CRP, FBG and PBG in patients with T2DM, and could decrease blood glucose, anti inflammatory, and improve insulin resistance. According to testing these cytokines, a new criteria for evaluating the progress of T2DM and the treatment may be approached.