ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal failure. The present study was undertaken to characterize the effects of Corni Fructus on diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and their mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Streptozotocin-diabetic rats were orally administrated with Corni Fructus at a dose of 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg body mass for 40 days. RESULTS: Corni Fructus-treated diabetic rats showed significant decreases of blood glucose, urinary protein levels and water consumption. Corni Fructus also reduced serum total cholesterol, total triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and showed a tendency of enhancing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. Levels of serum albumin and creatinine in diabetic rats were also significantly reduced by Corni Fructus administration at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body mass compared with non-treated diabetic rats. Corni Fructus increased catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidose (GSH-px) activities in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Furthermore, Corni Fructus treatment enhanced renal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) expression in diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that Corni Fructus may have the potential to protect the animals from diabetic nephropathy by amelioration of oxidative stress and stimulation of PPARgamma expression.