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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2006; 114(10): 563-568
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-948307
Article

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG · Stuttgart · New York

Protective Effect of Gui Qi Mixture on the Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats

Y.-W. Zhang 1 , D. Xie 1 , Y.-X. Chen 1 , H.-Y. Zhang 1 , Z.-X. Xia 1
  • 1Department of Chinese with Western Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
Further Information

Publication History

Received: January 4, 2006 First decision: May 26, 2006

Accepted: June 21, 2006

Publication Date:
19 December 2006 (online)

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Abstract

Huang Qi (root of Astragalus membranaceus) and Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis), two of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, have been proven to be effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) although the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully elucidated. This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Dang Gui and Huang Qi mixture (GQM) on the development of diabetic nephropathy in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DM and the possible underlying molecular mechanism. The diabetic animal model was made by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ and then treated with GQM or benazepril. Blood glucose, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), high density lipoprotein (HDL), serum creatinine (Scr), creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine β2-microglobin (β2-MG), kidney/body weight (K/B) ratio, glomerular area (GA), renal transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) mRNA expression and blood and renal angiotensin II (AngII) expression were determined 8 weeks after the treatment. The blood glucose, CHO and TG levels, BUN, SCr, Ccr. K/B ratio, GA, the excretion of β2-MG, renal TGF-β1 mRNA expression and blood and renal AngII expression were significantly increased while the HDL level was decreased 8 week after STZ injection. The changes in blood glucose, TG, CHO and HDL were reversed by GQM, not by benazepril, whereas the changes in other variables were reversed by both GQM and benazepril. Our results suggest that GQM alleviates the disorder in blood glucose and lipids, protects against the progression of renal nephropathy in diabetic rats, probably by inhibiting the expression of AngII and TGF-β1 mRNA.

Key words

Diabetic nephropathy - Astragalus membranaceus - Angelica sinensis - traditional Chinese medicine

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Correspondence

Prof. Ying-Wen Zhang

Department of Chinese with Western Medicine

Zhongnan Hospitial

Wuhan University

430071 Wuhan

China

Phone: +86/2763/25 76 86

Fax: +86/2727/87 33 07 95

Email: hhao3838@yahoo.com.cn

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