RESUMO
The current study was designed to evaluate the possible protective effects of Ruta graveolens (Rue) and its active phenolic constituent rutin against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. A single dose of DEN (200 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally injected. Two-weeks after DEN administration, rats received 0.05 % phenobarbital in drinking water for 12 weeks. Ruta graveolens (50 mg/kg) and rutin (50 mg/kg) were orally administered from the first day of experiment. DEN administration induced kidney injury evidenced by histological alterations as well as significant increase in serum urea (P<0.01), creatinine (P<0.001) and uric acid (P<0.001), and renal lipid peroxidation levels. On the other hand, renal glutathione content and activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase were significantly declined. Concomitant supplementation with either R. graveolens extract or rutin markedly alleviated the altered biochemical and histopathological features. In conclusion, the current findings provide evidence that R. graveolens and its active phenolic component rutin could protect against DEN-induced renal damage through abolishment of oxidative stress and potentiation of the antioxidant defense system.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Impaired wound healing is a complication of diabetes and a serious problem in clinical practice. We previously found that whey protein (WP) was able to regulate wound healing normally in streptozotocin (STZ)-dia-betic models. This subsequent study was designed to assess the effect of WP on heat shock protein-72 (Hsp72) and keratin16 (Krt16) expression during wound healing in diabetic rats. METHODS: WP at a dosage of 100 mg/kg of body weight was orally administered daily to wounded normal and STZ-diabetic rats for 8 days. RESULTS: At day 4, the WP-treated diabetic wound was significantly reduced compared to that in the corresponding control. Diabetic wounded rats developed severe inflammatory infiltration and moderate capillary dilatation and regeneration. Treated rats had mild necrotic formation, moderate infiltration, moderate to severe capillary dilatation and regeneration, in addition to moderate epidermal formation. Hsp72 and Krt16 densities showed low and dense activity in diabetic wounded and diabetic wounded treated groups, respectively. At day 8, WP-treatment of diabetic wounded animals revealed great amelioration with complete recovery and closure of the wound. Reactivity of Hsp72 and Krt16 was reversed, showing dense and low, or medium and low, activity in the diabetic wounded and diabetic wounded treated groups, respectively. Hsp72 expression in the pancreas was found to show dense reactivity with WP-treated diabetic wound rats. CONCLUSION: This data provides evidence for the potential impact of WP in the up-regulation of Hsp72 and Krt16 in T1D, resulting in an improved wound healing process in diabetic models.