To observe the effect of saffron on mitochondrial function of diabetic rat retinal ganglion cell apoptosis process.Methods:Using random number table method,72 SD male rats 8 ~ 10 weeks old with healthy eyes were randomly assigned to normal control group, diabetic model group, and saffron treatment group (n=24). Normally controlled rats experienced no treatment. Other rats were given streptozocin (SYZ) 25 mg / (kg / D) by intraperitoneal injection for 3 days,once daily, to establish the model of type 2 diabetes and their blood sugar would be more than or equal to 167 mmlo/L for a successful modeling. After the model was established, saffron treatment group was provided with intraperitoneal injection of crocin solution 50 mg / kg, once per day, for 3 consecutive months. And Retinal aldose reductase (AR), neural cell apoptosis and B cell lymphoma / leukemia-2 (Bcl-2), cell pigment and Bcl-2 associated X protein (BCX), cytochrome C (Cyt-C), cespase-3 protein expression were detected.Results:The AR activity in the retina of diabetic rats was significantly higher than that of the normal control group and the treatment group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<005); there was small amount of TUNEL positive cells in RCGs layers of the control group, brown staining; B: The RGCs and nuclear layer in diabetic model group had a number of TUNEL staining positive cells; C: there were TUNEL staining positive cells in RGCs and kernel layer in Saffron treatment group, but much less than the number of that of the diabetic model group; Retinal Bcl-2, Bax, Cyt-C and caspase-3 protein expression of diabetic rats were much lower than those of normal control group and treatment group, and the difference is statistically significant (P<005).Conclusion:Saffron inhibited AR activity and the activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, regulated expression of apoptosis inhibition of bcl-2 gene and apoptosis promoting gene Bax, Cyt-C and Caspase-3, reduced the apoptosis of nerve cells in the retina of diabetic rats and showed protective effect on diabetes optic omental injury.