Objective:To investigate the influence of curcumin on the level of nitric oxide in kidney and the renal protective effect in diabetic rats.Methods:Diabetic models were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozoticin(STZ)into male Wistar rats at a dose of 60mg/kg body weight and was randomly divided into two groups:untreated diabetes group(group DM

n=10) and diabetes group treated with curcumin 200mg·kg -1 ·d -1 (group Cur

n=10).A normal contral group(group N

n=10)was also designed

After treated for eight weeks

the level of NO in kidney

renal structure and function were evaluated.Results:The levels of urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER)

albumin-creatinine ratio(Alb/Cr)

kidney weight(KW)

profile of kidney hypertrophy(KW/BW)

mean glomerular area (MGA) and mean glomerular volume(MGV)were all significantly increased in dialetic rats as compared with normal rats (all P<0.01);larger glomeruli could be found by light microscopy;the level of nitric oxide(NO)in renal cortex of diabetic rats was much higher than that in normal rats.All these abnormalities were markedly ameliorated when treated with curcumin.The levels of blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and serum creatinine(Scr) have no significant difference among the three groups.Conclusion:Curcumin may decrease the level of NO in kidney of diabetic rats at early stage

alleviate kidney hyperfiltration and hypertrophy

and decline UAER.