Abstract
BackgroundAs the main ingredient of Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) extract, crocin- I (CR) has been reported to show various pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic and renal protection properties of CR in db/db mice.MethodsEight-week-old db/db mice were treated with metformin (Met) (100 mg/kg) and CR (50 mg/kg) for eight weeks.ResultsCR treatment showed hypoglycemic functions indicated by reduced bodyweight, food and water intake, plasma glucose, and serum levels of glycated hemoglobin A1c. Additionally, the CR group showed increased serum levels of insulin and pyruvate kinase, hypolipidemic functions indicated by the suppressed levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride, and enhanced levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which are also indicators of hypoglycemic functions. The renal protection function of CR was demonstrated by its protection of renal structures and its regulation of potential indicators of nephropathy. The anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation effects of CR were verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the kidneys of db/db mice, CR decreased the expression of phospho-IκBα and phospho-nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), whereas it enhanced the expression of nuclear respiratory factor 2, manganese superoxide dismutase 1, heme oxygenase-1, and catalase.ConclusionsThe anti-diabetic and anti-diabetic nephritic effects of CR were related to its modulation of oxidative stress-mediated NF-κB signaling.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM), a metabolic and endocrine disease, affected over 114 million people in China in 2017
The renal protection function of crocin- I (CR) was demonstrated by its protection of renal structures and its regulation of potential indicators of nephropathy
In the kidneys of db/db mice, CR decreased the expression of phospho-inhibitor of kB alpha (IkBa) and phospho-nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), whereas it enhanced the expression of nuclear respiratory factor 2, manganese superoxide dismutase 1, heme oxygenase-1, and catalase
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM), a metabolic and endocrine disease, affected over 114 million people in China in 2017. The effects of abnormal metabolism on blood glucose and lipid levels are responsible for the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN), which is observed in nearly 40% of patients with type 1 DM (T1DM) and 20% of patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) (Yang et al, 2018). This leads to end-stage renal damage, recognized as the main cause of death in patients with diabetes (Yuan et al, 2018). The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic and renal protection properties of CR in db/db mice
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