Ellagic acid ameliorates renal function in experimental diabetic nephropathy. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Ellagic acid, an NF-κB inhibitor, ameliorates renal function in experimental diabetic nephropathy.
Chem Biol Interact. 2014 Aug 5 ;219:64-75. Epub 2014 May 28. PMID: 24877639
Amjid Ahad
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious complication confronted by diabetic patients. Available data indicate that the development of DN is linked to inflammation. In this context, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) has received much attention. Ellagic acid (2,3,7,8-tetrahydroxy-chromeno[5,4,3-cde]chromene-5,10-dione), found abundantly in plant extracts and fruits, possesses numerous medicinal properties. We investigated the nephroprotective effects of oral treatment of ellagic acid in high fat diet/low dose streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic Wistar albino rats. Ellagic acid treatment for 16weeks post induction of diabetes significantly attenuated renal dysfunction and oxidative stress. Ellagic acid significantly inhibited the renal NF-кB activation. Moreover, ellagic acid significantly lowered renal pathology and suppressed transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and fibronectin expressions in renal tissues. Ellagic acid also significantly reduced the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). In cultured rat NRK 52E proximal tubular epithelial cells, ellagic acid treatment inhibited high glucose-induced activation of NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis. These results suggest that ellagic acid exhibited renal protective effect in diabetic rats partly through antihyperglycemia which wasaccompanied by attenuation of inflammatory processes via inhibition of NF-κB pathway.