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Protective effects of allicin on streptozotocin‐induced diabetic nephropathy in rats
Author(s) -
Huang Hong,
Jiang Ying,
Mao Genxiang,
Yuan Fang,
Zheng Hexin,
Ruan Yuan,
Wu Tianfeng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.7874
Subject(s) - allicin , streptozotocin , endocrinology , medicine , diabetic nephropathy , blood urea nitrogen , creatinine , diabetes mellitus , fibrosis , kidney , nephropathy , chemistry , biochemistry
Abstract BACKGROUND Studies in animal models have shown that allicin, a major biologically active component of garlic, can play a role in the prevention of tissue fibrosis in the liver, lung and heart, mainly related to the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation, fibrogenic cytokine secretion and extracellular matrix synthesis. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of allicin on renal damage in streptozotocin ( STZ )‐induced diabetic rats. STZ ‐induced diabetic rats were administered allicin (15, 30 and 45 mg · kg −1 · day −1 ) via daily intra‐gastric gavage for 12 weeks. The levels of fasting blood glucose ( FBG ), blood urea nitrogen ( BUN ), serum creatinine ( sCr ), lipid and 24 h urine albumin excretion ( UAE ) were measured at the end of weeks 4, 8 and 12. The renal histopathology and the expression levels of collagen I, transforming growth factor β 1 ( TGF ‐ β 1) and phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (p‐ ERK1 /2) were measured using immunohistochemistry and/or western blotting. RESULTS In 12 week STZ ‐induced diabetic rats, severe hyperglycemia and albuminuria were markedly developed. Treatment with allicin for 12 weeks ameliorated diabetes‐induced morphological alterations of the kidney and decreased FBG , BUN , sCr , triglyceride ( TG ) and 24 h UAE in diabetic rats. The expression levels of collagen I, TGF ‐ β 1 and p‐ ERK1 /2 were significantly decreased by allicin treatment. CONCLUSION These results suggested that allicin may play a protective role in diabetic nephropathy via the TGF ‐ β 1/ ERK pathway in diabetic rats. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry