title: Effect of silymarin on streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic nephropathy in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetic nephropathy is the major cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. Silymarin is a flavonoid mixture obtained from Silybum marianum. Various preclinical and clinical studies have revealed that it has antidiabetic activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of silymarin on type 2 diabetic nephropathy in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was induced in overnight-fasted male albino Wistar rats by an intramuscular injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Eighteen rats with diabetic nephropathy and 6 rats without induced nephropathy were divided into 4 groups, each containing 6 animals. Group 1 was the normal control and group 2 was the DM control. Groups 3 and 4 were rats with diabetic nephropathy that received 60 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg of silymarin for 60 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the study period, the diabetic control group had significantly higher blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, urine volume, serum uric acid, and urine albumin levels when compared to the normal control group. Silymarin-treated groups showed significantly lower levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, urine volume, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, and urine albumin, when compared to the diabetic control group. Histopathological studies reports strongly supported the protective effect of silymarin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that silymarin has protective effects for kidneys affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus. If the safety and efficacy is confirmed in humans, silymarin will be a good medication to prevent nephropathy-induced premature death in diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Swamy Vivekanandha College of Pharmacy, Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Nagarajan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sheela
authors.forename: Manonmani Alvin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.forename: Duraiswami
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sathyamurthy
authors.forename: Balasubramanian Nandha
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009536:Niacinamide; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012838:Silymarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013311:Streptozocin; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D003404:Creatinine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D009536:Niacinamide; D020011:Protective Agents; D012838:Silymarin; D013311:Streptozocin; D014527:Uric Acid