title: The amelioration of streptozotocin diabetes-induced renal damage by Wu-Ling-San (Hoelen Five Herb Formula), a traditional Chinese prescription.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wu-Ling-San (Hoelen Five Herb Formula) is a Chinese prescription used to promote water metabolism.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to characterize the effects of Wu-Ling-San on diabetic nephropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats were orally administrated with Wu-Ling-San (0.5, 1.5, 2.5 g/(kgday)) once a day for 10 weeks. Changes in the renal function related parameters in plasma and urine were analyzed at the end of 10-week administration. Kidney was isolated for pathology histology, immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wu-Ling-San (2.5 g/(kgday)) partially decreased the high plasma glucose level in diabetic rats. Diabetic-dependent alterations in urinary albumin, 24-h urinary albumin excretion rate, creatinine clearance, and glomerular mesangial matrix expansion were ameliorated by Wu-Ling-San. The increased expression of nuclear factor-kB as well as transforming growth factor-beta(1) and the progressive accumulation of fibronectin in kidney of diabetic rats were attenuated by Wu-Ling-San. Not only the elevated levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and mitochondrial thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, but also the higher levels of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine and receptor for AGEs in kidney of diabetic rats were ameliorated by Wu-Ling-San.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : Wu-Ling-San possess an anti-diabetic property with plasma glucose lowering action accompanied with amelioration of glycation-mediated renal damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy & Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, 20 Weishin Road, Yanpu Shiang, Yen-Pou, Ping Tung Shien, Taiwan, ROC. iml@mail.tajen.edu.tw
authors.forename: I-Min
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Thing-Fong
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: Shorong-Shii
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Chia Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005353:Fibronectins; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C443861:wulingsan; C048496:N(6)-carboxymethyllysine; D003404:Creatinine; D008239:Lysine