Abstract: Objective    To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of baicalin on vascular injury in diabetic rats.    Methods    Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control group, a diabetes group, a baicalin 50 mg·kg-1 group, and a baicalin 100 mg·kg-1 group. A single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg·kg-1·d-1) was used to establish a diabetic model. After injection of streptozotocin, baicalin was perfused. The control group and the model group were given the same amount of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium, once a day for 28 days. Vascular endothelial function of rats was detected by in vitro vascular ring assay. ELISA method was used to detect the serum levels of IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione reductase (GSH-px). HE staining was used to observe the morphology of aorta in each group. The level of NO in serum was measured by nitrate reductase method. The expression of eNOS and NF-κB protein in aorta of rats in each group was detected by Western blotting. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in aorta of rats in each group was observed by DHE staining. Results    After baicalin treatment, the vasodilatory dysfunction of diabetic rats was improved, the levels of IL-β, IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α in the serum of rats were decreased, the levels of NO, MDA and GSH-px were increased, the expression of eNOS protein and NF-κB protein in aorta tissue were increased, and the formation of ROS was decreased.    Conclusions    Baicalin may protect streptozotocin-induced vascular injury in diabetic rats through the NF-κB/ROS signaling pathway.

Key words: Baicalin,  ,  , NF-κB,  ,  , Oxidative stress,  ,  , STZ,  ,  , Vascular injury