Amelioration of STZ-induced nephropathy in diabetic rats by saffron hydro alcoholic extract

Jamal Amri; Mona Alaee; Seyed Amirhossein Latifi; Abbas Alimoradian; Mehdi Salehi

doi:10.1515/hmbci-2021-0005

Article

Amelioration of STZ-induced nephropathy in diabetic rats by saffron hydro alcoholic extract

Jamal Amri , Mona Alaee , Seyed Amirhossein Latifi , Abbas Alimoradian and Mehdi Salehi

Published/Copyright: May 21, 2021

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From the journal Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation Volume 42 Issue 4

Abstract

Objectives

Type 1 diabetes is one of the most important causes of microvascular complications such as nephropathy. On other hand, the use of herbal medicines is more affordable and has fewer side effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to assessment the therapeutic effect of saffron in diabetic nephropathy by regulating the expression of CTGF and RAGE genes as well as oxidative stress in rats with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

In this study, we used 24 Wistar rats in four groups. To induce diabetes, we used a 55 mg/kg.bw dose of streptozotocin intraperitoneally. Type 1 diabetic rats were administered saffron (20 and 40 mg/kg/day) by gavage once daily for 42 days. Finally, serum urea, creatinine, albumin and SOD, MDA levels in kidney tissue were measured using spectrophotometric methods and CTGF and RAGE gene expression in kidney tissue was measured using real-time PCR method.

Results

Diabetes significantly increases serum FBG, urea, creatinine and decreases albumin (p<0.001). AS well as increased the CTGF and RAGE genes expression, MDA level and decreased the SOD activity in the kidney tissue (p<0.001). Serum urea, creatinine, albumin was significantly ameliorated by saffron (p<0.001). It was shown the saffron significantly decrease the kidney expression CTGF and RAGE genes and MDA level and increased the SOD activity (p<0.001). Also, it was found that the beneficial effects of the saffron were dose-dependent (p<0.05).

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that saffron as an adjunct therapy may prevent development and treatment of diabetic nephropathy by regulating the expression of the CTGF and RAGE genes and oxidative stress.

Keywords: gene expression; MDA; saffron ; SOD; STZ-induced nephropathy

Corresponding author: Mehdi Salehi, Member of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, 3848176941 Arak, Iran, Phone: +98 8634173505 (436), Fax: +98 8634173521, Mobile: +98 9183648352, E-mail: salehi58@gmail.com

Funding source: vice chancellor for research and technology of Arak University of Medical Sciences

Award Identifier / Grant number: 3485

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the vice chancellor for research and technology of Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran for financial support.

Research funding: This work was supported by funds from the vice chancellor for research and technology of Arak University of Medical Sciences (Grant number: 3485).
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Ethical approval: The present study was approved by Review Board and Ethics Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

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Received: 2021-01-21

Accepted: 2021-04-08

Published Online: 2021-05-21

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/hmbci-2021-0005

Keywords for this article

gene expression; MDA; saffron; SOD; STZ-induced nephropathy