title: Cecropia pachystachya extract attenuated the renal lesion in 5/6 nephrectomized rats by reducing inflammation and renal arginase activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The plant Cecropia pachystachya Trécul has been used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat hypertension, bladder and kidney inflammation and renal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of the aqueous fraction from the ethanolic extract of Cecropia pachystachya (FCP) in the management of hypertension, inflammation and progressive renal disease in rats submitted to 5/6 nephrectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male Wistar rats submitted to 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 NE) were untreated (NE) or treated (NE+FCP) with the FCP (0.5g/kg/day). The treatment started 15 days after surgery, and the rats were followed for a period of 60 days. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and albuminuria were evaluated from 15-60 days after the surgical procedure. Function and estructural renal changes, TGF-β (transforming growth factor β), MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and nitric oxide (NO) urinary excretion were analyzed. Expression and activity of the renal enzymes arginase (ARG), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and MAP kinase p-JNK expression also were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nephrectomized rats developed progressive albuminuria and increased SBP that was less intense in the treated group. There was a reduction in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the nephrectomized rats, which was attenuated by treatment with FCP extract. The treatment with FCP also attenuated the histological changes, reduced the expression and activity of renal arginase, the number of macrophages (ED-1 positive cells) and the p-JNK expression in the renal cortex of the rats submitted to 5/6 NE. The urinary excretion of TGF-β was less intense in the treated group and was associated with the reduction of the expression and activity of the renal arginase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the reduction of renal arginase activity, p-JNK and TGF-β expression can explain the mechanism by which the treatment with C. pachystachya reduced the inflammation and improved renal function. This study presents the potential use of Cecropia pachystachya in the treatment of chronic renal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Physiology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: cmaquiaveli@usp.br.
authors.forename: Claudia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Maquiaveli
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: edsilva@usp.br.
authors.forename: Edson R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lara C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Departament of Physiology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloísa D C
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Francescato
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lucon Júnior
authors.affiliation: Departament of Physiology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cleonice G A
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 740, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dulce E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Casarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Nephrology Division, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 740, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.affiliation: Departament of Physiology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Terezila M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Coimbra
mesh_terms: D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism; D001938:Brazil; D035702:Cecropia Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009392:Nephrectomy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D001119:Arginase
keywords: Angiotensin II; Arginase; Cecropia pachystachya; Hypertension; Inflammation; Renal diseases