title: Protective effects of allicin on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies in animal models have shown that allicin, a major biologically active component of garlic, can play a role in the prevention of tissue fibrosis in the liver, lung and heart, mainly related to the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation, fibrogenic cytokine secretion and extracellular matrix synthesis. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of allicin on renal damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. STZ-induced diabetic rats were administered allicin (15, 30 and 45 mg · kg-1· day-1) via daily intra-gastric gavage for 12 weeks. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (sCr), lipid and 24 h urine albumin excretion (UAE) were measured at the end of weeks 4, 8 and 12. The renal histopathology and the expression levels of collagen I, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) were measured using immunohistochemistry and/or western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 12 week STZ-induced diabetic rats, severe hyperglycemia and albuminuria were markedly developed. Treatment with allicin for 12 weeks ameliorated diabetes-induced morphological alterations of the kidney and decreased FBG, BUN, sCr, triglyceride (TG) and 24 h UAE in diabetic rats. The expression levels of collagen I, TGF-β1 and p-ERK1/2 were significantly decreased by allicin treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that allicin may play a protective role in diabetic nephropathy via the TGF-β1/ERK pathway in diabetic rats. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab of Geriatrics, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
authors.forename: Genxiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
authors.forename: Hexin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, 310013, China.
authors.forename: Tianfeng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000490:Allium / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004220:Disulfides; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D001786:Blood Glucose; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004220:Disulfides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014280:Triglycerides; C006452:allicin; D013311:Streptozocin; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: allicin; diabetic nephropathy; phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2; transforming growth factor β1