Total triterpene acids, isolated from Corni Fructus, ameliorate progression of renal damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether total triterpene acids (TTAs), isolated from Cornus Fructus, attenuates renal function by reducing oxidative stress and down-regulating the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetes was induced by an injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg intravenously). Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, diabetic model group and TTAs treatment group (50 mg/kg, intragastrically) administrated for 8 weeks from 5th to 12th week. All rats were anaesthetized and then were killed to remove kidneys. The renal function and redox enzyme system parameters were tested. Glomerular morphology was observed by a light microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were employed to determine the protein levels of TGF-β1.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TTAs attenuated the levels of urinary protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, although it did not significantly reduce the level of glucose. In addition, TTAs decreased the malondialdehyde while increased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxide activities in diabetic rats. The renal pathological changes in TTAs treatment group were ameliorated. Furthermore, TTAs also ameliorated the expression of TGF-β1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TTAs improved renal function via reducing oxidative stress and down-regulation the expression of TGF-β1 in diabetic rats.</p>

Protective effect of terpenes from fructus corni on the cardiomyopathy in alloxan-induced diabetic mice / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effects of terpenes from fructus corni (TFC) on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetes was produced by a single injection of alloxan (220 mg/kg, i.p.) in mice. The fasting blood glucose of mice were tested 15 days later and that greater than 13.9 mmol/L were regarded as the diabetic mice which were divided randomly into the model and TFC groups. TFC dissolved by physiological saline (P.O, 80 mg/kg) was administrated to the TFC group for successive 8 weeks since the 15th day.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to the control group, the weight index increased significantly. The level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was markedly decreased and malondialdehyde(MDA), the inflammatory factors (TNF-alpha, IL-6) were obviously increased in myocardium. The histopathological examination suggested that myocardial cells disarranged, swelling and the intercellular space increased in model group. It also showed the infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibroblasts in TFC group. The above change was improved significantly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TFC ameliorated the alterations of cardiomyopathy in diabetic mice induced by alloxan. the mechanism might be related to decrease blood glucose, antioxidative stress and inflammatory factors.</p>