Abstract: AIM: To study the hypoglycemic effect of total alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis in streptozotocin diabetes rats.METHODS: The diabetic rats model was established by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 50 mg/kg. The fasting time of diabetic rat model was screened. Sprague-Dawley rats had been successively administrated total alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis (578.7 and 192.9 mg/kg) for 68 days. The levels of fasting blood glucose, glycosylated serum protein, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were assayed. The liver, spleen and kidney organ indexes were measured. The hypoglycemic effect of total alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis in streptozotocin diabetes rats was evaluated.RESULTS: (1)Diabetic rats could be chosen to fast 6 h during the day for measuring fasting blood glucose.(2) Compared with diabetic model group, the group of total alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis 578.7 mg/kg could significantly decrease the 6 h fasting blood glucose and glycosylated serum protein (P<0.05) and the group of total alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis 192.9 mg/kg could significantly reduce the level of glutathione peroxidase (P<0.01). Total alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis had no impact on serum creatinine, superoxide dismutase, total cholesterol, triglyceride and liver, spleen, kidney organ indexes of diabetes rats (P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Total alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis have hypoglycemic effect in streptozotocin diabetes rats.

Key words: Total alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis, Diabetes rats, Hypoglycemic effect