Abstract: 　Ojective　To investigate the effects of puerarin combined with taurine on pancreas of rats with type 2 diabetes. Methods　40 rats were divided into diabetes mellitus group (DM), Taurine treatment group(Tau), Puerarin treatment group(Pue) and combined with taurine treatment group(Pue+Tau) at random. After having been treated with puerarin or/and taurine for 8 weeks, Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the serum contents of glucose, insulin, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase ( SOD) and reactive oxygen species(ROS) were measured; the activity of SOD, MDA and ROS in pancreatic mitochondria were detected respectively. Immunohistochemistry technique was used to detect the expression of PDX-1 in pancreas in different group rats respectively. Results Compared with DM group, taurine or puerarin can reduce the content of glucose, MDA, ROS and HbA1c and raise the activity of SOD and the insulin content. The expression of PDX-1 protein was significantly up-regulated in pancreatic islets in Pue+Tau group compared with that of DM group. Conclusion These results suggest that puerarin combined with taurine could prevent the pancreas from oxidative stress in diabetic rats and induced the up-regulation of PDX-1 expression.

Key words: 　Taurine, puerarin, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, PDX-1