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Total triterpene acids, isolated from Corni Fructus, ameliorate progression of renal damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate whether total triterpene acids (TTAs), isolated from Cornus Fructus, attenuates renal function by reducing oxidative stress and down-regulating the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1).

Methods

Diabetes was induced by an injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg intravenously). Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, diabetic model group and TTAs treatment group (50 mg/kg, intragastrically) administrated for 8 weeks from 5th to 12th week. All rats were anaesthetized and then were killed to remove kidneys. The renal function and redox enzyme system parameters were tested. Glomerular morphology was observed by a light microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were employed to determine the protein levels of TGF-β1.

Results

TTAs attenuated the levels of urinary protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, although it did not significantly reduce the level of glucose. In addition, TTAs decreased the malondialdehyde while increased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxide activities in diabetic rats. The renal pathological changes in TTAs treatment group were ameliorated. Furthermore, TTAs also ameliorated the expression of TGF-β1.

Conclusion

TTAs improved renal function via reducing oxidative stress and down-regulation the expression of TGF-β1 in diabetic rats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China

    Min-you Qi  (齐敏友), Kai Chen  (陈 凯), Yan-hui Su  (苏燕慧) & Su-qing Yu  (喻苏青)

  2. Department of Basic Guiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550002, China

    Gao-yu Xie  (谢高宇)

  3. Department of Pharmacy, College of Chemical and Chemistry Engineering, Hu’nan University, Changsha, 410082, China

    Hao-ran Liu  (刘浩然)

Authors
  1. Min-you Qi  (齐敏友)
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  2. Gao-yu Xie  (谢高宇)
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  3. Kai Chen  (陈 凯)
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  4. Yan-hui Su  (苏燕慧)
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  5. Su-qing Yu  (喻苏青)
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  6. Hao-ran Liu  (刘浩然)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Min-you Qi  (齐敏友).

Additional information

Supported by a Project Supported by Scientific Research Fund of Zhejiang Provincial Education Department (No. Z201121669) and a Project of Chinese Medica Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (No. 2009CA080)

These authors contribute equally to this work

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Qi, My., Xie, Gy., Chen, K. et al. Total triterpene acids, isolated from Corni Fructus, ameliorate progression of renal damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 20, 456–461 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1532-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-013-1532-5

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