Abstract:The protective effect of ethanol root extract of Pueraria lobata（Willd.）Ohwi（PU）on renal function in diabetic nephropathy was investigated.A mouse model of diabetic nephropathy was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride in combination with high-fat and high-sugar diet.Then the protective group was given the extract of PU，and the model group and the control group were given the same volume of normal saline.After modeling，serum samples and kidney tissue analysis were taken.The results showed that the fasting blood glucose level of the model group was significantly higher than that of the blank group（P<0.001），serum creatinine（CRE）and blood urea nitrogen（BUN）levels increased significantly（P<0.001），and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase （NAG）activity was significantly enhanced （P<0.001），and hematoxylin-eosin staining（HE）staining pathological sections of kidney tissue showed clear lesion structure under light microscope.After the rats were given the ethanol root extract of PU，the physiological and biochemical indexes of the mice in the protected group were restored compared with the model group，and the tissue lesions were also relatively relieved.It was proved that PU can effectively alleviate the renal injury process in mice with diabetic nephropathy and maintain its renal function to normal level.Therefore，the ethanol root extract of PU is expected to be developed into a special dietary food for patients with diabetic nephropathy.