Background Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARR) plays an important role in the death of retinal capillary cells in diabetic retinopathy (DR) partly via its regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NE-kappa B). The current study investigated the effect of the regimen of Gaoshan Hongjingtian (RG) on the mechanism of PARP regulation of NE-kappa B, and demonstrated the possible impact of the RG and Gaoshan Hongjingtian (Rhodiola sachalinensis, RS) on diabetic retinopathy. Methods Wistar rats were made diabetic by administering streptozotocin. They were then assigned to three groups at random. After 2 months, the three groups of these diabetic rats were treated with RS or RG, or untreated. Analyses of expression levels of PARR, NE-kappa B, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the retinas of rats in different groups were performed by Western blotting and immunohistochemical assays, and mRNA levels of NE-kappa B and ICAM-1 were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, the basement membranes of capillaries in the rats' retinas were observed using electron microscopy, and diabetes-induced capillary degeneration (ghost pericytes and acellular capillaries) were quantitated. Results From the third month after the injection of streptozotocin, the diabetic rats were given daily RG, RS or tap water separately. The diabetic rats failed to gain weight compared with normal age-matched rats, whereas their glycated hemoglobin levels were significantly increased. After 5 months, the mRNA levels of NE-kappa B and ICAM-1 and the protein expression of PARR, NE-kappa B, and ICAM-1 were significantly increased in the retinas of diabetic rats in the untreated group compared with the nondiabetic controls. After 8 months, the number of degenerated retinal capillaries (ghost pericytes and acellular capillaries) was significantly increased in the diabetic rats in the untreated group compared with normal age-matched rats. RG and RS inhibited diabetes-induced over-expression of PARP, NE-kappa B, and ICAM-1 in the retinas of diabetic rats at the end of 5-month diabetic duration. Treatment using RG and RS significantly inhibited increases in the number of acellular capillaries and pericyte ghosts and suppressed the basement membrane thickening in the retinas of rats with diabetes for 8 months compared with the control diabetic rats. Conclusions These results indicate that PARP plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. RS and RG may have acted on the mechanism of PARP regulation of NE-kappa B, which suppressed the expression of NE-kappa B and ICAM-1, and led to the inhibition of retinal capillary degeneration.