Pygeum africanum: effect on oxidative stress in early diabetes-induced bladder.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Pygeum africanum on oxidative stress and functional changes of the bladder after diabetes induction.


METHODS
Thirty-two adult Wistar male rats were treated daily for 8 weeks and grouped as follows: Control group (n = 6), Streptozotocin-induced diabetic group (n = 10), diabetes plus P. africanum group (n = 10), and control plus P. africanum group (n = 6). After diabetes induction for 4 weeks, the diabetes plus P. africanum and control plus P. africanum groups were fed with P. africanum (100 mg/kg, orally) in peanut oil for another 4 weeks. The catalase, superoxide dismutase activity, and malondialdehyde levels were measured as a marker of lipid peroxidation. The levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase were also evaluated. Urodynamic studies were performed to evaluate the functional changes of diabetic bladders after P. africanum treatment.


RESULTS
The catalase and superoxide dismutase activities significantly increased (P < 0.05) and maleic dialdehyde levels significantly decreased from diabetic plus P. africanum group compared with diabetic group (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical studies showed a significantly decreased number of inducible nitric oxide synthase-positive cells in diabetic plus P. africanum group compared with diabetic group (P < 0.05). In diabetic plus P. africanum group, maximal bladder volume significantly decreased, while bladder pressure and maximal bladder pressure significantly increased compared with diabetic group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Early treatment with P. africanum could effectively suppress the oxidative stress status in diabetic bladder and may slow down the process of diabetic cystopathy.
Wang
Dan
D
Institute of Experimental Nuclear Medicine, Shandong University School of Medicine, 44# Wenhua Xi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Li
Yongzhi
Y
Hou
Guihua
G
Wang
Ping
P
Zhang
Jianping
J
Laudon
Vincent
V
Shi
Benkang
B
D000818:Animals; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D008517:Phytotherapy; D000068218:Prunus africana; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*