Prophylactic effect of baicalein against renal dysfunction in type 2 diabetic rats

• Published in: Biochimie 2014-11, Vol.106, p.101-110
• Main Authors: Ahad, Amjid, Mujeeb, Mohd, Ahsan, Haseeb, Siddiqui, Waseem Ahmad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alanine Transaminase - blood; Alanine Transaminase - metabolism; Animals; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Aspartate Aminotransferases - metabolism; Baicalein; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blotting, Western; Body Weight - drug effects; Cytokines - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - chemically induced; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Diabetic Nephropathies - etiology; Diabetic Nephropathies - prevention & control; Diabetic nephropathy; Diet, High-Fat; Eating - drug effects; Flavanones - pharmacology; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; Insulin resistance; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - pathology; Kidney - physiopathology; Male; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - metabolism; Oxidative stress; Rats, Wistar; Renal function; Streptozocin; Thiazolidinediones - pharmacology; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - metabolism; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0300-9084; 1638-6183
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2014.08.006

Despite a tremendous advancement in the management of diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy (DN) is still a significant problem for many patients with diabetes, because of the inefficacy and associated side effects of pharmacological drugs. There is a demand for new therapeutic drugs which on one hand efficiently prevent the development of DN by targeting several metabolic and inflammatory pathways, and on the other hand, are side-effect free. In recent years, many researchers have suggested that inflammation plays an important role in the development of DN, hence, NF-κB has received much attention. We investigated the nephroptotective effects of baicalein (BAC), a flavonoid, in high fat diet/streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic Wistar rats. BAC (10 mg/kg bw/day and 20 mg/kg bw/day) treatment was given to the diabetic rats by oral gavage for 16 weeks post induction of diabetes. The effect of BAC was compared to a commercial antidiabetic drug rosiglitazone (RZ, 3 mg/kg bw/day). BAC and RZ treatment significantly lowered food intake, body weight and levels of fasting blood glucose, HbA1c and homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-IR) in diabetic rats. Both, BAC and RZ restored normal renal function and mitigated renal oxidative stress. BAC and RZ also suppressed the activation of NF-κB, decreased expression of iNOS and TGF-β1, and ameliorated the structural changes in renal tissues. Moreover, BAC also normalized the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and liver function enzymes. However, rosiglitazone treatment produced liver toxicity as was evident from increased serum levels of liver function enzymes; ALP, SGOT and SGPT. Taken together, BAC treatment preserved renal function by anti-hyperglycemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, BAC was found to be more effective as compared to RZ, suggesting the efficacy of BAC in the treatment of DN. •Baicalein reduced hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in type-2 diabetic Wistar rats.•Baicalein protected renal cells of diabetic rats from oxidative stress and inflammation.•Baicalein attenuated diabetic nephropathy by downregulating NF-κB preventing downstream effects.