Objective To observe the effect of Xiaogao Zhuanzhuo Formula （Herbal formula for dissolving fat） on the insulin resistance of rats with obese non-alcoholic fatty liver. Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups. The normal group was fed with standard feed and the rest were with high fat feed. Eight weeks later

the Xiaogao Zhuanzhuo Formula group and Rosiglitazone group were fed with ordinary feed and treated with the corresponding medicine. The food control group was fed with ordinary feed for 12 weeks. On the following day of fasting

clamp experiment was conducted and glucose infusion rate （GIR） was calculated. The expression of liver tissue insulin receptor （InsR） and its substrate-2 （IRS-2） was determined with the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR detection method. Results Compared with those in the model group

GIR was increased significantly （P<0.01） and the expression of InsR mRNA and IRS-2 mRNA was significantly higher （P<0.01） in both Xiaogao Zhuanzhuo Formula group and Rosiglitazone group. Conclusion Xiaogao Zhuanzhuo Formula improves the state of insulin resistance through increasing the expression of InsR and IRS-2 of liver tissues of rats.