Abstract: OBJECTIVE To explore the effects and mechanism of extracts of Chrysanthemi Indici Flos on rats with diabetic nephropathy. METHODS Forty eight SD rats, ♀, were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group, epalrestat group and three doses of Chrysanthemi Indici Flos groups(n=8). Diabetes model was established by streptozotocin(35 mg·kg^-1, i.p). Extracts of Chrysanthemi Indici Flos(1, 2, 4 g·kg^-1, respectively) were oral administrated for 8 weeks. The 10 mg·kg^-1 epalrestat was administrated in epalrestat group. The blood glucose, weight and the contents of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT) and malonaldehyde(MDA) of kidney were measured. The pathological changes in the kidney were measured by hematoxylin and eosin stain. The activity of aldose reductase(AR) in kidneys was detected by ELISA and the change of AR gene expression was also determined. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, the indexes mersured above except the activity of CAT in model control group changed significantly. Compared with model control group, extracts of Chrysanthemi Indici Flos significantly reduced the level of blood glucose and the content of urine protein and MDA in kidney. They also increased the activity of SOD and the content of MDA in kidney. The activity and gene expression of AR were both obviously decreased. CONCLUSION Chrysanthemi Indici Flos could ameliorate renal dysfunction in rats with diabetic nephropathy by controlling the blood glucose, reducing the oxidative stress, and inhibiting the activation of polyol-pathway.