Antioxidant and antihyperglycaemic effects of naringenin arrest the progression of diabetic nephropathy in diabetic rats

Background
Long-standing diabetes declines the kidney function and is responsible for diabetic nephropathy (DN). The plant and the phytoconstituents have a promising therapeutic potential in the management of diabetes and diabetes complications.
Aim
This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of naringenin in diabetic-induced nephropathy in experimental rats.
Materials and methods
Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet and injected with streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneal). At 48 h after injection, hyperglycaemia was confirmed by estimating the blood glucose levels and the rats were left untreated for 4 weeks. The diabetic rats were orally treated with different doses of naringenin 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight, for the next 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment body weight and kidney weight were recorded, serum and urine were used for various biochemical estimations. Oxidative stress levels and histopathological studies were performed on isolated kidneys. The efficacy of treatment was statistically analysed with diabetic control rats.
Results
Increased blood glucose, lipid levels and abnormal kidney functions were noticed in diabetic rats. Moreover, increased levels of oxidative stress markers and altered histological structure were noted in the kidney of diabetic rats, which mimic DN. Naringenin treatments (25 and 50 mg/kg) in diabetic rats significantly restored their kidney functions and reversed hyperglycaemia and lipids level. Hyperfiltration and increased microalbuminuria, urinary albumin excretion and creatinine clearance were effectively attenuated within 4 weeks of naringenin treatments. Increased levels of oxidative stress and histological alteration were restored towards normal.
Conclusion
Naringenin treatments in diabetic rats arrest the progression of DN due to its multivariate actions such as antihyperglycaemic and antioxidant.