Aim To observe the effect of of Zuogui recipe(ZR) on glucose metabolism and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38MAPK) and c-jun amino-terminal kinase(JNK) expression in the adipose tissue of MKR mice.Methods Forty qualified MKR mice were equally randomized into 4 groups:model group(MG),low-dose ZP group(LZP),high-dose ZP group(HZP) and positive control group(PCG).LZP,HZP and PCG were treated by corresponding drugs for 30 days.Using C57 mice as the controls,the fasting blood glucose(FBG),the serum insulin,and the serum intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) level were determined;the expression of p38MAPK and JNK protein in the adipose tissue were determined by Western blotting and the SABC im-munohistochemistry.Results Hyperglycemia in HZP was significantly ameliorated and fasting blood glucose was decreased after treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with C57 mice,the serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 level were significantly increased,and the expression of p38MAPK and JNK protein in the adipose tissue of model group were increased weakly.After treatment,the serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 level were significantly decreased,and the expression of p38MAPK and JNK protein in the adipose tissue of HZP and LZP groups were also significantly decreased(P<0.01),compared with the model group.Conclusion Zuogui recipe has obvious effect on improving glucose metabolism and inflammatory reaction in MKR mice,and its mechanism may be related to the decrease of p38MAPK and JNK protein expression in adipose tissue,the increase of sensitivity of peripheral tissue to insulin,and the improvement of insulin resistance in the mice.