ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of Jinlida granules on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the kidney, heart and abdominal aorta of experimental diabetic rats, so as to explore the possible mechanism by which Jinlida granules protect the kidney and cardiovascular system. MethodsThe rats were randomized into 2 groups: normal contronl group (CON group, n=l0) and diabetic model group (n=20). Rats in the control group were fed with regular chow; those in the diabetic model group were fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks, and then were administered with streptozotocin (STZ; 30 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection to induce diabetic model. Successful diabetic models were further randomized into two groups with 10 in each: Jinlida granules treatment group (DM + JLG group) and non-treatment group (DM group). Rats in DM+JLG group were given Jinlida granules orally (3 g/kg per day) for 8 weeks. AngiotensinⅠ(AngⅠ) and angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the homogenates of the kidney, heart and abdominal aorta; the protein expression of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AT1R) and angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor (AT2R) was detected by Western blotting analysis. ResultsCompared with CON group, the kidney mass/body mass(KM/BM), heart mass/body mass (HM/BM), blood glucose (BG), and 24-hour urine proteins (24 h UP) were significantly increased in the DM group (P<0.05), the BM was significantly decreased(P<0.05), and the expression of AngⅠ, AngⅡ, AT1R and AT2R in the kidney, heart and abdominal aorta were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with DM group, the KM/BM and 24 h UP in DM + JLG group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the BM was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the expression of AngⅠ, AngⅡ, AT1R and AT2R in the kidney, heart and abdominal aorta were significantly decreased (P<0.05). ConclusionJinlida granules can decrease the levels of AngⅠ, AngⅡ, AT1R and AT2R in the kidney, heart and abdominal aorta of diabetic rats, which is beneficial for protecting the kidney and cardiovascular system.