Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of Sanhuangtangshenkang particles on the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 in bone tissue of type 2 diabetic (T2DM) rat model. Methods There were seven groups of rats in this study. Ten female Wistar rats were used as control. Ten rats were established for osteoporosis model, and fifty rats were established for diabetic model. Fifty diabetic model rats were further divided into model control group, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prevention group (high-dose TCM group, low-dose TCM group) and Western medicine group, with 10 rats for each group. All rats were given the corresponding intervention for 20 weeks. Automatic biochemistry analyzer was used to determine fasting blood glucose (FBG). ELISA was used to detect serum TNF-α and IL-6. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess bone density. Real-time PCR was used to appraise the mRNA of TNF-α and IL-6 in bone tissue. Western blot assay was used to measure protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 in bone tissue. Results Compared with osteoporosis model group, bone density was significantly increased, serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6, the mRNA and protein expression level of IL-6 were significantly decreased in bone tissue of TCM groups and Western medicine group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of TNF-α mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in bone tissue of in high-dose TCM prevention group and Western medicine group (P < 0.05). Compared with the diabetic model group, the serum levels of FBG, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly decreased in TCM groups and Western medicine group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of TNF-α mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in high-dose TCM prevention group and Western medicine group (P < 0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-6 were significantly decreased in lowdose TCM prevention group and Western medicine group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 are increased in serum and bone tissue of diabetic rats. Sanhuangtangshenkang particles can improve the inflammatory state to play prevention and therapeutic effect on diabetic rats.

Key words: diabetes mellitus, type 2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, bone and bones, osteoporosis, rats, Wistar, disease models, animal, Sanhuangtangshenkang particles