Protective effect of yacon leaves extracts against nephropathy induced by experimental diabetes in rats.

HONORÉ S.M.; SERRA BARCELLONA C.; GENTA S.B.; SANCHEZ S.S.

Lima

Congreso; 15th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops; 2009

International Society for Tropical Root Crops

Nephropathy is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Prevent the appearance and progression of this complication should therefore be instituted as early as possible. The present study was conducted to characterize the efficacy and discuss possible underlying action mechanism of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) leaf extract on diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-diabetic rats were orally administered with yacon leaves water extract (70 mg dry extract/kg body weigth) once a day for 60 days. Renal function related biochemical parameters in blood and urine were analyzed. At the end of experimental period the kidneys were isolated for histology, immunohistochemistry staining and RT-PCR analysis. Yacon leaves extract significantly decreased the high blood glucose levelin diabetic rats. Diabetic-dependent alterations in urinary albumin excretion, creatinine clearance, kidney hypertrophy and basement membrane thickening were attenuated by yacon extract. The intensity of oxidative stress decreased in treated animals. These finding are associate with a marked decrease in TGF-beta mRNA level. In addition, the expression of other molecular markers of diabetic nephropathy such as type IV collagen, laminin-1, fibronectin, TGF-beta and Smad2/3were diminished in yacon-treated group in comparison with the control diabetic group. These results suggested that yacon leaves water extract is a protective agent against renal damage in diabetic nephropathy, which acttion can be mediated by TGF-beta/Smads signals and scavenge reactive oxygen species.