Open AccessAstragalus polysaccharides protect renal function and affect the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Author(s) -
Meng Xue,
Mingmin Wei,
Dong Wang,
Xiaohan Qu,
Kun Zhang,
Nan Zhang,
Xinjian Li
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of international medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1473-2300
pISSN - 0300-0605
DOI - 10.1177/0300060520903612
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , creatinine , polysaccharide , astragalus , blood urea nitrogen , diabetes mellitus , renal function , streptozotocin , kidney , transforming growth factor , biochemistry , biology , pathology , traditional chinese medicine , alternative medicine
Objectives The objective was to observe the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on diabetes and on regulation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.Methods A type 2 diabetic rat model was established with a high-fat diet in combination with low-dose streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). Astragalus polysaccharides were applied as treatment intervention and changes in blood glucose and kidney morphology and function were assessed.Results Eight weeks after model establishment, kidney weight as a proportion of total weight (KW/TW) in the high-, medium-, and low-dose Astragalus polysaccharide groups was significantly lower than that in the model group, and the KW/TW value gradually decreased with increasing dose of polysaccharides in each treatment group. Fasting blood glucose in the low- and medium-dose Astragalus polysaccharide groups was numerically lower than that in the model group and fasting blood glucose in rats in the high-dose group was significantly lower than that in the model group. Levels of 24-hour urinary microalbumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, collagens I, III, and IV, α-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-β1, and Smad3 in Astragalus polysaccharide groups (all doses) were significantly lower than those in the model group.Conclusions Astragalus polysaccharide significantly improved blood glucose and protected kidney function in a rat diabetes model.