Objective To observe the effect of Chinese herbal compound Tangbikang on the level of plasma β-EP of diabetic peripheral neuropathy rats, and to discuss its mechanism of neuroprotection and abirritation. Methods STZ and feeding high fat forage induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into diabetic model group, Mecobalamin group, Tangbikang high dose group, Tangbikang medium dose group, Tangbikang low dose group, with 10 normal rats as control. The control group and model group were daily gavaged with distilled water, Tangbikang groups were given Tangbikang with different dose. Mecobalamin was used as the control medicine. Body weight and FBG was detected every 4 weeks, rats’ unilateral sciatic nerve were taken out at the 16th week. Pathological variation of sciatic nerve was presented by HE staining, and radioimmunoassay method was used to detect the levels of plasma β-EP of diabetic peripheral neuropathy of rats. Results The weight and FBG had obviously changed in the 16th week. Compared with the model group, pathological injury of diabetic peripheral neuropathy rats in the Tangbikang groups were significantly improved. The level ofβ-EP of model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01) compared with normal group. Tangbikang medium and high dose group significantly increased the level of plasma β-EP (P<0.01). Conclusion Chinese herbal compound Tangbikang could reduce the fasting blood glucose, protect nervous system and promote the level of plasmaβ-EP of diabetic peripheral neuropathy rats.

Objective To explore the effects of Chinese herbal compound Tangbikang on the expressions of p38 MAPK of sciatic nerve and plasma TNF-α in diabetic rats. Methods Ten of the sixty male SD rats were selected randomly as normal group, and the rest were fed with high-fat diet and low-dosage STZ was used to induce type Ⅱdiabetic rat models. Model rats were randomly divided into model group, mecobalamine group and Tangbikang low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups, 10 rats in each group. Each medication group was intervened with relevant medicine. Rat unilaterals sciatic nerves were taken after 16 weeks. The content of TNF-α in plasma was determined by radioimmunoassay. Western blot method was used to detect the expressions of p38 and p-p38 MAPK protein of sciatic nerve. Results Compared with normal group, the expressions of p38 and p-p38 protein and content of TNF-αin model group significantly increase (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of p-p38 protein and the content of TNF-α significantly decreased after medicine intervention in different doses Tangbikang groups and mecobalamin group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expression of p38 protein in Tangbikang high-dose group significantly decreased (P<0.05), with statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion Tangbikang can reduce the expression of p38 and p-p38 MAPK protein of the rat sciatic nerve, and reduce the content of TNF-α protein in rat plasma, which may be one of the effective targets of neuroprotection and abirritation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.