Nephroprotective potential of Quercus infectoria galls against experimentally induced diabetic nephropathy in rats through inhibition of renal oxidative stress and TGF-β

Abstract

ABSTRACTDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of death in diabetic patients and the current treatment options available have a limited significance. The insect galls of Quercus infectoria are traditionally important in the treatment of numerous diseases including diabetes. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Q. infectoria gall extract (QIGE) against experimental DN. Type 2 diabetes was induced by feeding rats with a high-fat diet (HFD) initially for 5 weeks, followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg bw/day). QIGE was administered to the rats orally at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg bw/day, respectively. At the end of the experimental period, various glycemic and renal function parameters were evaluated in the serum, urine and kidney tissues. The QIGE treatment significantly (p < .001) reduced the levels of fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and homeostasis assessment of insulin resistance in treated rats as compared to diabetic control rats. Markers of oxidative stress and the expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the kidneys of diabetic rats were significantly (p < .001) normalized by QIGE administration. QIGE prevents the development of DN via the inhibition of hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and renal TGF-β expression and is, therefore, a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of diabetic complications, especially DN.