Abstract
Endothelial cell dysfunction is considered to be one of the major causes of vascular complications in diabetes. Polyphenols are known as potent antioxidants that can contribute to the prevention of diabetes. Corn silk has been reported to contain polyphenols and has been used in folk medicine in China for the treatment of diabetes. The present study aims to investigate the potential protective role of the phenolic-rich fraction of corn silk (PRF) against injuries to vascular endothelial cells under high glucose conditions in vitro and in vivo. The protective effect of PRF from high glucose toxicity was investigated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The protective effect of PRF was subsequently evaluated by using in vivo methods in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Results showed that the PRF significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of glucose by restoring cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. PRF was also able to prevent the histological changes in the aorta of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Results suggested that PRF might have a beneficial effect on diabetic patients and may help to prevent the development and progression of diabetic complications such as diabetic nephropathy and atherosclerosis.
Highlights
The vascular endothelium is a single layer of cells that covers the inner surface of all blood vessels
Metformin and PRFthe protected the cells from damage by significantly increasing cell viability
Another study has reported that baechu kimchi added Ecklonia cava extract protected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from high glucose-induced damage by increasing cell viability [14]
Summary
The vascular endothelium is a single layer of cells that covers the inner surface of all blood vessels. In addition to forming a physical barrier to protect the vessel wall, the endothelium secretes a large number of bioactive substances involved in the modulation of vascular tone, coagulation, cell proliferation, and inflammation. Endothelial cells are unable to regulate glucose transport as well as other cells do. They are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of hyperglycemia [1]. Hyperglycemia-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induces RNA and DNA damage that may be responsible for the reduced proliferation rate observed in endothelial cells. The involvement of ROS in the induction of apoptosis by high glucose has been demonstrated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) [2,3]
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