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Planta Med 2014; 80(02/03): 121-129
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1360196
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Ethanol Extract of Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy by Inhibiting p-38 MAPK Activity in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Thing-Fong Tzeng
Department of Pharmacy & Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Yanpu Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan (ROC)
,
Shorong-Shii Liou
Department of Pharmacy & Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Yanpu Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan (ROC)
,
Chia Ju Chang
Department of Pharmacy & Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Yanpu Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan (ROC)
,
I-Min Liu
Department of Pharmacy & Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Yanpu Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan (ROC)
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Publication History

received 24 July 2013
revised 03 November 2013

accepted 24 November 2013

Publication Date:
15 January 2014 (online)

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Abstract

The anti-inflammatory potential of Lonicera japonica makes it an excellent source of novel medicinal targets to reduce inflammation in diabetic nephropathy. We aimed to investigate whether the ethanol extract of the flowering aerial parts of L. japonica exerts an ameliorative effect on diabetic renal inflammation using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were treated orally with the ethanol extract of the flowering aerial parts of L. japonica (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. The rats exhibited renal dysfunction, as evidenced by reduced creatinine clearance, increased blood urea nitrogen, and proteinuria, along with a marked elevation in the ratio of kidney weight to body weight; all of these abnormalities were significantly reversed by the ethanol extract of the flowering aerial parts of L. japonica. The histological examinations revealed amelioration of diabetes-induced glomerular pathological changes following treatment with the ethanol extract of the flowering aerial parts of L. japonica. It reduced the accumulation of ED-1-expressing macrophages in renal tissue of diabetic rats, almost completely abolished T cell infiltration and attenuated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The ethanol extract of the flowering aerial parts of L. japonica downregulated the protein expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the kidney of diabetic rats. The results suggest that it has the property to inhibit the activity of p-38 MAPK-mediated inflammatory response to halt the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Key words

diabetic nephropathy - diabetic rats - inflammatory response - Lonicera japonica - Caprifoliaceae - p-38 MAPK
 

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