title: Protective effect of yacon leaves decoction against early nephropathy in experimental diabetic rats.
abstract: Nephropathy is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Prevention of this complication has a major relevance. Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) leaves have been shown to ameliorate hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We examined the beneficial effects of yacon leaves decoction on diabetic nephropathy and explored the possible underlying action mechanism. Streptozotocin-diabetic rats were orally administered 10% yacon leaves water decoction (70mg dry extract/kg body weight) once a day for 4weeks. Biochemical parameters in blood and urine were analyzed and immunohistochemistry staining, western immunoblotting and qRT-PCR were assessed. Yacon decoction significantly decreased high blood glucose level in diabetic rats and improved insulin production. Diabetic-dependent alterations in urinary albumin excretion, creatinine clearance, kidney hypertrophy and basement membrane thickening were attenuated by yacon decoction. These findings were associated with a marked decrease in TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling. The expression of molecular markers of diabetic nephropathy such as collagen IV, laminin-1, fibronectin and collagen III were also diminished in the yacon-treated group compared to control diabetic group. These results suggest that yacon leaves decoction is a protective agent against renal damage in diabetic nephropathy, whose action can be mediated by TGF-β/Smads signals.
authors.affiliation: Dpto. Biología del Desarrollo, INSIBIO - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: Stella M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Honoré
authors.forename: Wilfredo M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Susana B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Genta
authors.forename: Sara S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D024061:Collagen Type III; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013311:Streptozocin; C121346:laminin 1; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat