An Aqueous-Ethanol Extract ofLiriope spicatavar.proliferaAmeliorates Diabetic Nephropathy through Suppression of Renal Inflammation

Hung-Jen Lu,Shin-Ya Huang,Chia-Hsin Chang,Shih-Hao Kuo,Thing-Fong Tzeng,I-Min Liu,Ming-Chang Wu,Jui-Chin Hsu,Fang-Yu Chang

doi:10.1155/2013/201643

Abstract

The tuberous root of Liriope spicata var. prolifera (TRLS; Liliaceae family) is valued for the ability to promote glucose homeostasis, and it may therefore be utilized as an adjuvant therapy in the control of diabetic complications. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of an aqueous ethanol extract from TRLS (TRLS-ext) (100 or 200 mg kg−1 per day for eight weeks) on rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy (DN). Renal dysfunction in diabetic rats was ameliorated by TRLS-ext as evidenced by reduced creatinine clearance, as well as increased blood urea nitrogen and proteinuria. Treatment with TRLS-ext was found to markedly improve histological architecture in the diabetic kidney. Hyperglycemia induced degradation of inhibitory kappa B and reduced nuclear factor kappa B activation, leading to increased infiltration of macrophages and increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α. All of the above abnormalities were reversed by TRLS-ext treatment, which also decreased the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and fibronectin in the diabetic kidneys. These findings provide a perspective on the renoprotective effects of TRLS-ext in DN.

Highlights

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a major long-term complication of diabetes mellitus, is the most common worldwide cause of end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis [1]
Diverse cells and proteins are implicated in the development of DN: leukocytes, monocytes, and macrophages; chemokines; adhesion molecules; inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); and nuclear factors [2, 3]
Using accumulation of ED-1 as a marker of macrophage activation [19], we have demonstrated that increased macrophage activation in the glomeruli of kidney tissue from STZ-diabetic rats is ameliorated by the administration of TRLS-ext

Summary

Introduction

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a major long-term complication of diabetes mellitus, is the most common worldwide cause of end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis [1]. It presents a staggering challenge to public healthcare systems due to the prohibitive cost of renal replacement therapy, which may become unaffordable even in developed countries. Diverse cells and proteins are implicated in the development of DN: leukocytes, monocytes, and macrophages; chemokines (e.g., monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1); adhesion molecules (e.g., intercellular adhesion molecule-1, ICAM-1); inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); and nuclear factors (e.g., nuclear factor kappa B; NF-κB) [2, 3]. Prolifera (TRLS; Liliaceae family), commonly known as “maidong” in traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat cough and heart diseases and to be a substitute for the official crude drug Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawl for centuries [4]. Previous phytochemical investigations with TRLS have revealed a rich diversity of chemicals, including steroidal

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