OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effects of total flavonoids extracted from puerariae flos on vitreous vascular endothelial growth factor（ VEGF） and high mobility group protein B1（ HMGB1） signaling pathway in streptozotocin（ STZ）-induced diabetic retinopathy mice.METHODS: Totally 90 clean healthy male C57 BL/6 mice were selected to be randomly divided into the control group（ n = 15） and the model establishment group（ n = 75）.The model establishment group was established diabetic retinopathy model by intraperitoneal injection of 6 mg/ml STZ solution 0.1 ml/10 g

the control group received intraperitoneal injection of citric acid buffer（ pH = 4.2） 0.1 ml/10 g.The successful model of the mice were divided into the model group

calcium dobesilate group and total flavonoids extracted from puerariae flos low

medium and high-concentration group according to the blood glucose levels

with11 mice in each group.The model group and control group were intragastrically given 0.9% sodium chloride solution 0.1 ml/10 g by gavage

qd; the calcium dobesilate group was given 0.1 g/ml calcium dobesilate solution 0.1 ml/10 g by gavage

qd; the total flavonoids extracted from puerariae flos low-concentration group

medium-concentration group

high-concentration group were given 5 mg/ml

10 mg/ml

20 mg/ml total flavonoids extracted from puerariae flos solution 0.1 ml/10 g by gavage

qd.All mice were treated for 10 weeks.The blood glucose levels

retinal vascular density

VEGF

nuclear factor-κB（ NF-κB）

tumor necrosis factor-α（ TNF-α） levels in vitreous

retinal HMGB1 protein expression levels were detected and compared.RESULTS: Compared with the model group

the blood glucose levels and retinal vascular density of mice in each group reduced significantly

the levels of VEGF

NF-κB and TNF-α in the vitreous decreased significantly

and the expression levels of HMGB1 protein in the retina decreased significantly; and total flavonoids extracted from puerariae flos low-concentration group > total flavonoids extracted from puerariae flos medium-concentration group > total flavonoids extracted from puerariae flos high-concentration group and calcium dobesilate group

the differences were statistically significant（ P < 0.05）.CONCLUSIONS: Total flavonoids extracted from puerariae flos can reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic retinopathy mice in a dose-dependent manner

inhibit abnormal proliferation of retinal blood vessels

decrease the levels of VEGF

NF-κB and TNF-α

the effect may be related to the inhibition of HMGB1 signaling pathway activity.