Renal Protective Effect of Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang on Diabetic Nephropathy of Type 1-Diabetic Mice

Abstract

Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang (XCHT), a traditional Chinese medicine formula consisting of seven medicinal plants, is used in the treatment of various diseases. We show here that XCHT could protect type-1 diabetic mice against diabetic nephropathy, using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and high-glucose (HG)-exposed rat mesangial cell (RMC) as models. Following 4 weeks of oral administration with XCHT, renal functions and renal hypertrophy significantly improved in the STZ-diabetic mice, while serum glucose was only moderately reduced compared to vehicle treatment. Treatment with XCHT in the STZ-diabetic mice and HG-exposed RMC resulted in a decrease in expression levels of TGF-β1, fibronectin, and collagen IV, with concomitant increase in BMP-7 expression. Data from DPPH assay, DHE stain, and CM-H2DCFDA analysis indicated that XCHT could scavenge free radicals and inhibit high-glucose-induced ROS in RMCs. Taken together, these results suggest that treatment with XCHT can improve renal functions in STZ-diabetic mice, an effect that is potentially mediated through decreasing oxidative stress and production of TGF-β1, fibronectin, and collagen IV in the kidney during development of diabetic nephropathy. XCHT, therefore merits further investigation for application to improve renal functions in diabetic disorders.

Antidiabetic and Renoprotective Effects ofCladophora glomerataKützing Extract in Experimental Type 2 Diabetic Rats: A Potential Nutraceutical Product for Diabetic Nephropathy

“…Taking these into account, we have shown that CGE was able to completely reverse the progressive loss of glomerular and tubular permeability and functions. Similarly to CGE, traditional Chinese medicine Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang was found to restore mesangial expansion, basement membrane thickening, glomerular hypertrophy, and tubular damage in T1DM rats [ 30 ] while quinapril, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, was also able to restore defective glomerular albumin permeability in experimental diabetic nephropathy rats [ 31 ].…”

A comprehensive review and perspectives on pharmacology and toxicology of saikosaponins

“…The pivotal roles of oxidative stress in the development of aging, cancer, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, and drug-induced liver and kidney injury have been well established. Several studies demonstrated that RB containing herbal formulas, including Da-Chai-Hu-Tang, Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang and Chai-Hu-Shu-Gan-San, improve oxidative stress in various animal models, including depressive model, atherosclerosis, nephropathy of diabetes and chemical-induced liver injury (Iizuka et al, 1998;Lin et al, 2012;Ohta et al, 1995;Shu-Qi et al, 2010). In line with these findings, purified SS monomers-based studies suggested that both SSa and SSd reverse impaired hepatic activity of superoxide dismutase, improve hepatic antioxidant defense capability, eliminate of ROS, inhibit lipid peroxidation and eventually protect hepatocytes from chloroform-and CCl 4 -induced oxidative stress and liver injury (Fan et al, 2007;Wu et al, 2010).…”

Review of Herbal Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy

“…fructus . XCHT has been shown to decrease the expression of TGF- β 1, FN, and collagen IV accompanied with increased BMP-7 expression in STZ induced diabetic mice and HG stimulated RMC, which was mediated through decreasing oxidative stress and productions of TGF- β 1, FN, and collagen IV in renal cortex during the development of DN [ 48 ].…”