title: Renal protective effect of xiao-chai-hu-tang on diabetic nephropathy of type 1-diabetic mice.
abstract: Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang (XCHT), a traditional Chinese medicine formula consisting of seven medicinal plants, is used in the treatment of various diseases. We show here that XCHT could protect type-1 diabetic mice against diabetic nephropathy, using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and high-glucose (HG)-exposed rat mesangial cell (RMC) as models. Following 4 weeks of oral administration with XCHT, renal functions and renal hypertrophy significantly improved in the STZ-diabetic mice, while serum glucose was only moderately reduced compared to vehicle treatment. Treatment with XCHT in the STZ-diabetic mice and HG-exposed RMC resulted in a decrease in expression levels of TGF-β1, fibronectin, and collagen IV, with concomitant increase in BMP-7 expression. Data from DPPH assay, DHE stain, and CM-H(2)DCFDA analysis indicated that XCHT could scavenge free radicals and inhibit high-glucose-induced ROS in RMCs. Taken together, these results suggest that treatment with XCHT can improve renal functions in STZ-diabetic mice, an effect that is potentially mediated through decreasing oxidative stress and production of TGF-β1, fibronectin, and collagen IV in the kidney during development of diabetic nephropathy. XCHT, therefore merits further investigation for application to improve renal functions in diabetic disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Liang-Tzung
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ming-Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Juei-Tang
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chung-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsing
authors.forename: Ching-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yeh