Abstract
Paecilomyces hepiali is a fungus widely used in Asian countries for various potential pharmacological activities. The present study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic and antinephritic effects of the Paecilomyces hepiali mycelium water extract (PHC) in diabetic rat, which is established by eight-week high-fat diet administration followed by one-week tail intravenous injection of 25 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). After four-week 0.12 g/kg metformin and PHC at doses of 0.08, 0.4, and 2.0 g/kg treatment, an increment of body weight, a decrement of plasma glucose, low levels of total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in diabetic rats were observed. PHC promotes glucose metabolism by enhancing insulin, pyruvate kinase activity, and increasing the synthesis of glycogen. PHC normalized the disturbed levels of superoxide dismutase, methane dicarboxylic aldehyde, and glutathione peroxidase in kidney. The inhibitory effects on the levels of interleukin-2, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α in serum and kidney revealed the protection of PHC against diabetic nephropathy. Compared with nontreated diabetic rats, four-week PHC treatment resulted in a decrement on nuclear factor kappa B expression in kidney. These results show that Paecilomyces hepiali possesses antidiabetic and antinephritic effects which are related to the modulation of nuclear factor kappa B activity.
Highlights
Diabetes, characterized by hyperglycemia and metabolic disturbance on lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, affect the life quality of patients by bringing huge pressure to society and public health [1]
The strikingly reduced bodyweight and enhanced blood glucose were observed after STZ injection in diet-STZinduced diabetic rats (P < 0.001, Figures 1(a) and 1(b))
Paecilomyces hepiali mycelium water extract (PHC) administration at dose of 0.4 and 2.0 g/kg resulted in 27.1% and 34.9% reduction on fasting blood glucose compared with nontreated diabetic rats (P < 0.05, Figure 1(b))
Summary
Diabetes, characterized by hyperglycemia and metabolic disturbance on lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, affect the life quality of patients by bringing huge pressure to society and public health [1]. Persistent hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus leads to the development of secondary complications including neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy [2]. Diabetic nephropathy is the major cause of end-stage renal disease with high mortality and morbidity [4]. A major clinical manifestation of diabetic nephropathy is that microalbuminuria follows macroalbuminuria and further leads to renal dysfunction [5]. During this process, a number of key pathways, including advanced glycation and activation of intracellular signalling molecules, are involved [6]. Diabetic nephropathy accounted for over 25% of the incident patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 2013 in the United Kingdom; in the United States, over 40% diabetic nephropathic patients received dialysis [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
