hypericum and Diabetic-Nephropathies

Oxidative stress and inflammation play a key role in the initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The present study aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of hypericum perforatum (HP) against DN. Rats were allocated into six groups: control, received normal saline; diabetic untreated (DM), received single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) after injection of nicotinamide (NA); gliclazide, received STZ,NA + gliclazide (10 mg/kg); DM + HP50, DM + HP100, DM + HP200, received STZ,NA and HP 50, 100, 200 mg/kg, respectively. Gliclazide and HP were administered daily via gavage for 8 weeks. Serum glucose, insulin, kidney function and histopathological picture were assessed. Furthermore, oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic and fibrotic markers were measured. Diabetic untreated group showed increase in serum glucose, urea, creatinine with albuminurea. Renal expression of protein for nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-кB), renal expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase II (COXII), collagen IV, fibronectin were elevated. Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), monocellular chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumour growth factor- β (TGF-β), caspase-3 and cytochrome c contents were also increased consequently with decline of serum insulin, expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ), renal reduced glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Treatment with either gliclazide or HP mitigated the deleterious effects of STZ on the tested parameters. These findings indicate for the first time that HP may have a renoprotective effect against DN through reduction of oxidative/nitrosative stress, enhancement of antioxidant defense mechanisms, decline of inflammatory cytokines, antifibrotic, antiapoptotic and blood glucose lowering properties.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Body Weight; Collagen Type IV; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cytoprotection; Diabetic Nephropathies; Fibronectins; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Gliclazide; Hypericum; Inflammation Mediators; Kidney; Male; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Oxidative Stress; PPAR gamma; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Transforming Growth Factor beta

The successful use of an extract of Hypericum flowers (Hypericum perforatum) and nimh oil (Azadirachta indica; Hyperoil) in foot wounds with exposed bone in a patient with bilateral advanced diabetic ulcers, has been reported previously. It was hypothesised that this amelioration was linked with the improved glycaemic control and peripheral microvascular circulation. In this case report, the surprisingly successful outcome of another patient using Hyperoil for infection damaged diabetic foot, without prior use of surgical procedure, is described. The patient had no macrovascular pattern impairment. Diabetic foot healing paralleled with controlled local infection and enhanced glycaemic control. The outcome of this patient suggests that the effectiveness of this inexpensive therapy using Hyperoil for diabetic foot is not only linked with the presence of severe microvascular disorder, but also with the appropriate local treatment for ulcer being a must for its recovery.

Topics: Aged; Azadirachta; Debridement; Diabetic Foot; Diabetic Nephropathies; Female; Humans; Hypericum; Phytotherapy; Plant Oils