AbstractAimThis study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of salidroside on diabetes‐induced cardiovascular disease.MethodsSprague–Dawley rats treated with 65 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ) on a daily basis were used to establish the diabetic rat model (blood glucose levels >13.9 mmol/L). Cardiac functions of diabetic rats were evaluated by their haemodynamic alterations. Western blot assay was performed to evaluate the protein levels of multiple signalling pathway factors. Quantitative real‐time PCR assay was performed to investigate the inflammation and oxidative stress of diabetic rats.ResultsSalidroside treatment improved the cardiac functions of diabetic rats. In addition, salidroside therapy attenuated the cardiac oxidative stress induced by diabetes. Salidroside inhibited the diabetes‐induced inflammation in diabetic rat hearts. The apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was also alleviated by the treatment of salidroside. Salidroside also upregulated the phosphorylation levels of AMPK, ACC, TSC2 and RAPTOR.ConclusionSalidroside exerts protective effects against diabetes‐induced cardiac dysfunction by modulating the mTOR and AMPK signalling pathways.