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This Article Accepted manuscript (PDF) All Versions of this Article: JOE-08-0481v1 200/3/347    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by He, L. J. Articles by Zhang, X. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by He, L. J. Articles by Zhang, X.

L He, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
M Liang, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
F Hou, Southern Medical University, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, 510515, China
Z Guo, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
D Xie, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
X Zhang, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Correspondence: Fan Fan Hou, Email: ffhou{at}public.guangzhou.gd.cn

Abstract

There is evidence that inflammatory processes are involved in the development and/or progression of diabetic nephropathy. However, effective treatment for inflammation in diabetic kidney is practically unknown. The rhizomes of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora (PS) are a traditional medication long used to treat inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the ethanol extract of PS (EPS) may reduce inflammation in patients with diabetic kidney. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were randomly assigned to two groups treated with a gavage of either EPS or vehicle. A group of non-diabetic control rats was followed concurrently. Compared with vehicle-treated diabetic rats, EPS-treated animals displayed significant decrease in renal macrophage infiltration and overexpression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and TGF-β1. This was associated with attenuation of the structural and functional abnormalities of early diabetic nephropathy, such as glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial expansion, and albuminuria. Administration of EPS significantly reduced NADPH oxidase-dependent superoxide generation and decreased expression of malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein products in diabetic kidney. These data suggest that EPS might improve diabetic nephropathy, probably through inhibition of redox-sensitive inflammation.