Abstract
BackgroundRadix puerariae (RP) is a herbal medicines for diabetes, mainly because of anti-oxidative, insulin resistance and hypoglycemic effect. Fructus crataegi (FC) also possesses strong antioxidant activity in vitro. This study focused on the effects of herbal mixture of RP and FC (RPFC) on renal protection through a diabetic rat model.MethodsType 2 Diabetic model was established with high fat diet followed by injecting rats a low dose of STZ (25 mg/kg body weight). Rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal, high fat diet, diabetes mellitus, high fat diet plus RPFC prevention, and RPFC prevention before diabetes mellitus. RPFC was given to rats daily by intragastric gavage. The blood bio-chemical index and renal pathological changes were examined. The later includes hematoxylin and eosin staining, periodic acid schiff staining, and Masson trichrome staining. Protein levels of were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. mRNA levels were detected by RT-PCR.ResultsRats prevented with RPFC resulted in decreasing blood glucose with corresponding vehicle treated rats. Glomerulus mesangial matrix expansion, renal capsule constriction, and renal tubular epithelial cell edema were less severe following RPFC prevention. Moreover, RPFC prevention reduced protein levels of PI3K, AKT, α-SMA and collagen IV in the kidney of diabetic rats.ConclusionCombined prevention with RPFC may inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway in the kidney, thereby prevent renal injury in diabetic rats.
Highlights
Radix puerariae (RP) is a herbal medicines for diabetes, mainly because of anti-oxidative, insulin resistance and hypoglycemic effect
The pathogenesis of Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is not well understood, previous studies suggest that disturbed lipid metabolism [3], abnormal hemodynamics [4], and over-produced inflammatory mediators and cytokines [5] are the major causes of DN
We examined here whether RP and FC (RPFC) could prevent renal injury in a rat model of DN, where progressive glomerular sclerosis and renal fibrosis was induced by a high-fat diet and a low-dose STZ
Summary
Radix puerariae (RP) is a herbal medicines for diabetes, mainly because of anti-oxidative, insulin resistance and hypoglycemic effect. This study focused on the effects of herbal mixture of RP and FC (RPFC) on renal protection through a diabetic rat model. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus and is a major cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) [1]. The pathological changes mainly include glomerular mesangial expansion, basement membrane thickening, the pathogenesis of DN is not well understood, previous studies suggest that disturbed lipid metabolism [3], abnormal hemodynamics [4], and over-produced inflammatory mediators and cytokines [5] are the major causes of DN. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for treating DN in China [7]. Radix puerariae (RP), known as ‘Gegen’ in Chinese, is the root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi or Pueraria thomsonii Benth
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