RESUMEN
Diabetes has become a global public health problem that seriously threatens human health. Traditional Chinese medicine, the characteristics of the role of multiple targets, has a unique advantage in the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Astragaloside-Ⅳ (AS-Ⅳ), one of the main activities of Astragalus membranaceus, has a series of pharmacological effects including improvement in the function of endothelial cells and neovascularization, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, regulating energy metabolism, protectionnervous, anti-cancer and so on. In this paper, AS-Ⅳ to prevent and treat diabetes and its complications has been reviewed, which has effect on lowering blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, improving insulin resistance, inhibiting inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress. Additionally, it also can improve the diabetic animal and cell model of diabetic vascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy and other pathological damages. AS-Ⅳ may be a potential active substance for the treatment of diabetes and its complications.