Rehmannia glutinosa ameliorates the progressive renal failure induced by 5/6 nephrectomy.
OBJECTIVE
Rehmannia glutinosa, the steamed root of the Scrophulariaceae family, has been widely used in Asian countries for the treatment of renal diseases. In this study, we evaluated the renoprotective effect of aqueous extract of Rehmannia glutinosa in progressive renal failure.


METHODS
The effects of Rehmannia glutinosa on renal function, 24-h proteinuria, and the expression of angiotensin II, angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor, TGF-beta1, and type IV collagen in renal cortex were analyzed in progressive renal failure rats induced by 5/6 nephrectomy.


RESULTS
Rehmannia glutinosa reduced the serum creatinine level, 24-h urinary protein excretion, and glomerulosclerosis, and it also inhibited the expression of angiotensin II, AT(1) receptor, TGF-beta1 and type IV collagen in the renal cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the renoprotective effect of Rehmannia glutinosa might be mediated by suppressing the expression of angiotensin II and AT(1) receptor and by regulating TGF-beta1 and type IV collagen expression.
Lee
Byung-Cheol
BC
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-Ku, Seoul 130-702, Republic of Korea.
Choi
Jong-Bae
JB
Cho
Hyun-Ju
HJ
Kim
Young-Seung
YS
D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D032267:Rehmannia; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood
D000418:Albumins; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000803:Angiotensin I; D003404:Creatinine