Abstract: As a cardiovascular complication of diabetes, diabetic cardiomyopathy seriously affects the prognosis of patients with diabetes. The incidence and mortality of diabetic cardiomyopathy increase, and has emerged as a research hotspot in current years. The pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy is complex, involving a range of signaling pathways in its incidence and development. Nuclear factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), as a powerful antioxidant gene, enhances the capacity of the myocardium to withstand oxidative stress via interplay with different signaling elements and exerts anti-inflammatory response, anti-myocardial fibrosis, and anti-apoptosis effects. Researches have shown that certain ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine can alleviate the myocardial injury by affecting the relationship of Nrf2 with other signaling factors via enhancing the expression of Nrf2. Here we review the role of Nrf2 and therapy of traditional Chinese medicine in diabetic cardiomyopathy in hope of providing referential idea for the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.A reference for the prevention and therapy of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Key words: Nrf2, diabetic cardiomyopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, antioxidant stress