Mulberry leaf tea alleviates diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting PKC signaling and modulating intestinal flora

作者:Sheng, Yao; Zheng, Shujuan; Zhang, Chuanhai; Zhao, Changhui; He, Xiaoyun; Xu, Wentao; Huang, Kunlun*
来源:Journal of Functional Foods, 2018, 46: 118-127.
DOI:10.1016/j.jff.2018.04.040

摘要

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of the end-stage renal disease worldwide and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortalities in diabetic patients. We evaluated the anti-hyperglycemic and anti chronic renal damage effect of mulberry leaf tea, a potential functional food material. Mulberry leaf tea significantly alleviated symptoms of DN rats including reducing blood glucose level, improving insulin sensibility and ameliorating blood lipid profile and chronic renal damages. The abundant pharmacologically compounds in mulberry leaf tea such as 1-DNJ, flavonoids, polyphenols and polysaccharides were likely responsible for its beneficial effects. Furthermore, we found that mulberry leaf tea alleviated DN by reducing DAG-PKC cascades including regulating energy metabolism, improving insulin sensibility and reducing inflammatory response. Mulberry leaf tea also modulated the community structure of the intestinal flora which were closely associated with diabetes and its complications. Mulberry leaf tea provides a novel dietotherapy for DN.