Abstract: Diabetic nephropathy (DN)， as a serious complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)， is the major cause of end-stage renal disease with high mortality worldwide. The progressive kidney disorder is pathologically characterized by glomerular fibrosis， thickened glomerular and tubular basement membranes， mesangial cells expansion， accumulation of the extracellular matrix and increased mesangial hypertrophy. Although the exact causative factor of DN remains unclear， several mechanisms have been postulated， such as oxidative stress， increased inflammation， renal hyperfiltration and renal injury. Therefore， lots of synthesized drugs were developed to focus on these therapeutic targets to cure DN. However， clinical severe side effects have emerged following the treatments. Traditional Chinese medicine has showed the advantages to remedy DN for its natural and safe character. This review will highlight the classic and effective components of traditional Chinese medicine to cure diabetic nephropathy in preclinical researches to offer new therapeutic strategies for an adequate pharmacotherapy of DN.