Protective effect of yacon leaves decoction against early nephropathy in experimental diabetic rats

作者：Honore Stella M; Cabrera Wilfredo M; Genta Susana B; Sanchez Sara S^*

来源：Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2012, 50(5): 1704-1715.

DOI：10.1016/j.fct.2012.02.073

• Diabetes
• Kidney
• Yacon
• TGF/Smad signaling

Nephropathy is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Prevention of this complication has a major relevance. Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) leaves have been shown to ameliorate hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We examined the beneficial effects of yacon leaves decoction on diabetic nephropathy and explored the possible underlying action mechanism.
Streptozotocin-diabetic rats were orally administered 10% yacon leaves water decoction (70 mg dry extract/kg body weight) once a day for 4 weeks. Biochemical parameters in blood and urine were analyzed and immunohistochemistry staining, western immunoblotting and qRT-PCR were assessed.
Yacon decoction significantly decreased high blood glucose level in diabetic rats and improved insulin production. Diabetic-dependent alterations in urinary albumin excretion, creatinine clearance, kidney hypertrophy and basement membrane thickening were attenuated by yacon decoction. These findings were associated with a marked decrease in TGF-beta 1/Smad2/3 signaling. The expression of molecular markers of diabetic nephropathy such as collagen IV, laminin-1, fibronectin and collagen III were also diminished in the yacon-treated group compared to control diabetic group. These results suggest that yacon leaves decoction is a protective agent against renal damage in diabetic nephropathy, whose action can be mediated by TGF-beta/Smads signals.

• 出版日期2012-5