·AIM:To investigate the effect of puerarin on apoptosis expression of Bcl-2 in the retina of diabetic rats and the possible mechanism of puerarin.·METHODS:Totally 60 male Wister rats were selected and divided at random into 3 groups:normal group,diabetic group and diabetic with puerarin injection group.The diabetic retinopathy rats model was established by injecting streptozotocin(STZ).The pathogenic changes of diabetic retinopathy were observed and a quantitative analysis was given to Bcl-2 with RT-PCR at month 1,3 and 5,the data were analyzed with software SPSS 13.0.·RESULTS:Bcl-2 expressed in the retina of the normal rats.When at month 3,the expression of Bcl-2 was remarkably increased in diabetic group by puerarin injecting comparing with diabetic group(P<0.05),while at month 5,the expression of Bcl-2 was increased in the two groups.The pathologic damage in the retina of diabetic groups by puerarin injecting was slighter than diabetic groups.·CONCLUSION:Puerarin can alleviate the retinal pathological damage of diabetic rats.At month 3,Bcl-2 is expressed higher in the diabetic model by puerarin injecting than the diabetic group.Puerarin can increase the process of diabetic retinopathy by restraining the expression of Bcl-2.Consequently,puerarin will probably become the effective medicine to cure diabetic retinopathy.·